Hey there! I haven’t felt like writing much lately, but I’ve got a lot of albums I want to share with you, and this is one of them.

Finnish metal band Amorphis’ founding member and guitarist Esa Holopainen recently released a solo album titled Silver Lake by Esa Holopainen. This album is quite special because it features some fantastic guest musicians. I believe Amorphis has a big fan base in our country, and for those fans, there are two tracks on the album featuring Amorphis’ vocalist Tomi Joutsen. Silver Lake by Esa Holopainen is 37 minutes long and consists of 9 tracks. Despite being a solo album by a guitarist, it stands out more for its vocal performances by the guests.

The opening track, “Silver Lake,” is a melancholic instrumental piece dominated by acoustic passages and synth. I think the Turkish audience will especially like this opening track. We tend to gravitate towards anything with a hint of melancholy or an arabesque touch. It’s a fitting opening for the album’s overall mood, and I love how instrumental openings give albums a cinematic feel.

Katatonia’s Jonas Renkse lends his melancholic vocals to the second track, “Sentiment.” Esa maintains the acoustic atmosphere, adding sweet guitar melodies this time. The song ends with a flute, which complements Jonas Renkse’s voice beautifully. Whenever I hear a flute, I always think of Swedish folk music, even though flutes are played worldwide!

“Storm” was the first song I heard from this album. The vocals are by Swedish folk musician Håkan Hemlin. I hadn’t heard him before, but I really liked his voice. I also think this is the most melodic and memorable song on the album. I recommend focusing on the shakers while listening to this track.

Now, let’s get to the song that made me write this review. I might not be objective here. The vocals on “Ray of Light” are by Einar Solberg from Leprous. Without a doubt, this is the album’s strongest vocal performance. While he has as many detractors as he does fans, I think everyone should give him a chance. From what I’ve seen, whenever Einar Solberg is involved, the instruments tend to take a back seat. We saw this in Leprous’ latest album as well. I can’t say the instrumental part of “Ray of Light” is particularly striking, but Einar’s vocals more than make up for it.

Another highlight of the album is “Alkusointu,” narrated in poetry form by Finnish singer Vesa-Matti Loiri. This track struck a chord with me and has been one of the standout pieces. Whether it will have the same impact on others, I don’t know, but it’s definitely one for those late-night, dreamy, depressive playlists. When the song started, I thought I was about to hear black metal, but it took me to entirely different places. The interplay between guitar, saxophone, and synth solos is truly beautiful. The high-pitched notes in the solos give a bittersweet feeling that the song captures perfectly.

There are many “best” moments in the album. Now, let’s talk about the most metal song on the album. “In Her Solitude” features Tomi Joutsen from Amorphis on vocals. The song includes progressive and orchestral elements. It also has the most prominent backing vocals in the album and is the only track with growl vocals.

Another track that maintains its heavy riffing is “Promising Sun,” with vocals by Björn Strid from Swedish melodic death metal band Soilwork. Even though it’s not directly related, it reminded me of Hammerfall. You could perhaps consider it alternative metal.

Next up is “Fading Moon,” featuring Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering), a musician who’s contributed to many artists and projects. I must admit, she’s not my favorite, but she has a lot of fans. She regularly collaborates with Amorphis, so Esa Holopainen probably listed her as his first choice for guest vocals. She has a symphonic vocal style and a strong voice, but her tone doesn’t resonate with me. The instrumentation is lovely, especially the progressive elements in the keyboards.

The album closes with “Apprentice,” where Jonas Renkse from Katatonia returns on vocals. Esa brings back the acoustic vibe, creating an emotional atmosphere for the listener. Comparing the two tracks featuring Renkse, I’d say I prefer this one. The vocal and guitar melodies are more memorable, making it a more fulfilling track both instrumentally and emotionally.

This album showcases a different side of Esa Holopainen. Compared to his other work, Silver Lake by Esa Holopainen is more melancholic, acoustic, and focused on emotion. If you give it a listen, I think you’ll find a song that resonates with you. My favorites are “Ray of Light” and “Alkusointu.” I recommend giving them a try. Enjoy the music!

Asuna Pehlivan