Amorphis

Amorphis was formed in 1990 by guitarist-composer Esa Holopainen and drummer/keyboardist Jan Rechberger, joined by guitarist and singer Tomi Koivusaari and bassist Olli-Pekka Laine. The band recorded a demo, Disment Of Soul. They then signed a contract with the American label Relapse Records in 1991. The band, which at the time played rather death metal, recorded a handful of tracks (which would end up on the EP Privilege of Evil) before devoting itself to its first real album, The Karelian Isthmus, released in 1992. The album's lyrics mainly deal with the themes of war, religion and Celtic mythology.