Shortly after the release of AMORPHIS’ brand new album Far From The Sun through Virgin, (ex-) longtime partner Relapse just comes out with another best of album. But contrary to Story – 10th Anniversary (2000) Chapters contains not only a good survey of the entire work of AMORPHIS under the roof of Relapse (which means all albums, except the new one), but also a DVD with 5 vids from that era.
This trip through the past is built up chronologically. Starting in the very recent past with Alone and Drifting Memories from Am Universum (2001) it goes back step by step. Via a time machine and back button. The next stops are The Way and Summer’s End from Tuonela (1999) , followed by Better Unborn, one of their best known hits My Kantele and Weeper On The Shore from Elegy (1996). While diving deeper and deeper into the past Black Winter Day, The Castaway and Drowned Maid from the Tales From The Thousand Lakes (1994) are passing by and then you end up at the beginning with Warriors Trial, The Exile Of The Songs Of Uisliu and The Lost Name Of God from The Karelian Isthmus (1992).
In between you will find a few kind of rare songs from the single releases such as: Too Much To See from Alone single, Northern Lights from Divinity single, The Brother-Slayer from My Kantele single (which also can be found on Story best of) and Moon And Sun from Black Winter Day single.
In musical terms there is nothing to nag about. AMORPHIS’s music is variable like a chameleon but beautiful and amazing. When I was listening to all these songs in a row I noticed that the sound did not change that much over the years. Only the singing is now clean and a lot of different styles and influences found their way into the music, but the basics are unmistakable AMORPHIS. And to be honest I start getting into their new stuff.

The choice of songs is surely debatable. I think Relapse wanted to play it safe and has put all known and popular songs on this album. I would rather have listened to songs like Elegy or songs from Privilege Of Evil EP instead of The Brother-Slayer a second time. It seems to be all about money.

And it’s almost the same with the DVD. These 5 clips Alone, Divinity, My Kantele, Against Widows and Black Winter Day are the official videos. They got stringed together pretty carelessly. You also can zap through the lyrics but that’s about all there is. No background, no live recordings, not anything special about the band. Nothing. I think there would have been much more potential for everything. It’s a pity…

Upshot: Chapters is a nice best of album for AMORPHIS newbies, because you really get a nice survey about everything the band has created in the past. But there is nothing special or rare to enthuse longtime fans. Relapse practiced typical label policy: band has fulfilled their contract and signed a deal somewhere else, so let’s grab everything we have the copyrights on and let’s make some money out of it.