AMORPHIS have released their new single “Bones,” a powerful preview of their upcoming album Borderland, set for release on September 26, 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music. In contrast to the album’s first single, “Light And Shadow,” which showcased a more uplifting tone, “Bones” dives into darker, heavier territory.
Emerging from the mythical depths of Finland’s thousand lakes, the track delivers thunderous riffs and Eastern-tinged strings and keys, creating a dense, textured soundscape. Despite its intensity, the song allows space for moments of hope, culminating in a cathartic chorus driven by Tomi Joutsen’s soaring clean vocals. Lyrically, “Bones” reflects the struggle for survival faced by Finland’s ancestors, adding depth and weight to its sonic force.
“As a starting point, I wanted to prove that even a keyboard player can create an AMORPHIS song which is based on a heavy riff, and to everyone’s surprise, ‘Bones’ turned out to be the heaviest Borderland song,” reveals keyboardist Santeri Kallio.
“Bones” also arrives with the first music video from Borderland, directed by Patric Ullaeus, who has previously helmed several AMORPHIS videos including “The Moon” and “Wanderer.” Known for his cinematic style, Ullaeus has also worked with other major names in the metal scene such as IN FLAMES, ARCH ENEMY, PRIMAL FEAR, and many more.
After recording four albums in a row in Sweden, Hansen Studios (Jacob Hansen, Denmark; VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE, PRIMAL FEAR, etc.) were the destination of choice in late 2024 and early 2025. The album artwork was designed by Dutch artist Marald Van Haasteren (METALLICA, BLACK SABBATH, KVELERTAK, ALCEST etc.) this time.
Besides newly collaborating with Hansen and Van Haasteren, AMORPHIS still rely on the lyrical craftsmanship of Pekka Kainulainen, who’s been courageously writing for the band since their 2007 offering Silent Waters. About his inspiration for Borderland, Kainulainen comments: “The generations that came here before us, our ancestors, also had to face death and destruction. Honouring the mythologies of mankind, as well as the listeners of AMORPHIS, I wrote lyrics that hopefully convey some of the humility and strength that mankind has always depended on.”
With Borderland, the title of the album couldn’t have been chosen more fittingly. Throughout their career, spanning over more than three decades, AMORPHIS — Tomi Joutsen (vocals), Esa Holopainen (guitars), Tomi Koivusaari (guitars), Olli-Pekka Laine (bass), Santeri Kallio (keyboards) and Jan Rechberger (drums & percussion) — have been an ever-evolving act, wandering on an exciting boundary-pushing path. From their sinister death metal debut Karelian Isthmus over genre-defining mid-90s melodic death works like Tales From The Thousand Lakes and Elegy as well as the melodic 2000’s grandeur of Eclipse or Skyforger to records combining the very best of all prior eras to refreshing new soundscapes (f.e. Under The Red Cloud or Queen Of Time): Whatever this group works on promises long-range success.
AMORPHIS’ forthcoming album will be released in time for a massive headline tour in their home country as well as a trip as part of an arena-filling package with ARCH ENEMY, ELUVEITIE and GATECREEPER, kicking off in Stuttgart, Germany on October 10.
Reeder, the visionary behind Metal Addicts, has transformed his lifelong passion for metal into a thriving online community for metal aficionados. As a fervent devotee of black metal, Reeder is captivated by its dark, atmospheric, and often unorthodox soundscapes.