Amorphis scored a double at the sixth annual Finnish Metal Awards, presented on February 20 at the Finnish Metal Expo in Helsinki. Tomi Joutsen was voted Vocalist of the Year, whereas the artwork for Skyforger, created by Travis Smith, received the award for Best Album Cover Of The Year. In addition, Skyforger was ranked second among the Albums of the Year and Esa Holopainen finished fourth in the Best Instrumentalist category. Thanks to all who voted for Amorphis!

The previously announced 2oth Anniversary DVD will be titled Forging The Land Of Thousand Lakes and is scheduled for relase in early July. It contains a full live concert, filmed in November 2009 at Club Teatria in Oulu/Finland.

Besides the standard version, there will be a limited Deluxe Edition, which in addition to the Oulu concert (also available in Dolby Digital 5.1) contains a bonus DVD featuring the complete Summer Breeze 2009 gig, a documentary titled Tales From The 20 Years, a collection of promo video clips and a photo gallery. Furthermore, the Deluxe Edition will include the Oulu gig in its entirety on two live CDs.

Here is the video for “From The Heaven Of My Heart”, directed by Owe Lingwall and filmed at various locations throughout Finland:

Skyforger has been granted the EMMA Award for Best Metal Album of 2009. The prestigious award, issued by the Finnish National Group of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, was presented to the band at the EMMA Gala in Helsinki. The gala broadcast includes a performance of “Silver Bride” and is available for online viewing at the Yle Areena website until March 6.

Amorphis have been nominated as Finnish Artist Of The Year 2009 at Finland’s Grammy equivalent, the EMMA Awards. Likewise, Skyforger scored a nomination as Metal Album Of The Year. The winners will be announced on February 4 at the EMMA Gala in Helsinki, which will be televised nationwide and feature various performers including Amorphis. The Artist Of The Year will be chosen by the public via SMS voting (info here, FI only).

On November 26, the national RadioMedia association announced its winners for 2009, voted by almost 15,000 listeners. “Silver Bride” was chosen Finnish Radio Hit Of The Year. Thanks to everyone who cast their vote for Amorphis!

Several live shows for 2010 have already been added to the Tour Page. More to follow!

Amorphis will release their first-ever live DVD in the spring of 2010, in time for the band’s 20th anniversary. The filming will take place on Friday, November 20, at Club Teatria in Oulu/Finland, where Amorphis will be supported by Stratovarius and Before The Dawn. In addition to the full-length live show, the anniversary DVD will include plenty of bonus material documenting the band’s impressive career.

During the recent five-week European tour, Amorphis played to sold-out venues in London and Paris as well as in Sofia/Bulgaria and various German towns. Likewise, the current Finnish tour started with sold-out shows in Jyväskylä and Joensuu. Esa Holopainen comments: “After our successful European tour, it feels good to return to the Finnish stages. And it’s great to notice that our ‘home folks’ have not forgotten us. See you at the shows!”

After returning from the European tour, Amorphis will play eleven gigs in Finland during November and December. All dates and venues are listed on the Tour Page.

Skyforger continues in the Finnish Top 20 in the twelfth week after its release. The new single, From The Heaven Of My Heart will be available from the Webshop and Finnish record stores from October 28.

On the Forging Europe Tour in October and November, Amorphis will be supported by Before The Dawn and Amoral.

A few changes have occurred in the gig schedule for this fall. On the Latin America tour, there will be an extra show in Mexico City on September 14. On the European leg, the concert on October 18 has been relocated from Zagreb to Graz (Austria) for logistic reasons. In addition to the previously announced shows, Amorphis will play a gig in Helsinki on October 2. Please check the Tour Page for venue details!

Skyforger entered the official Finnish charts at number one upon its release and remained in the top spot during its second chart week. Other first-week placements were #55 in Germany, #48 in Switzerland and #33 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart (USA), which lists the best-selling albums by emerging artists who have not yet made the national Top 100. In addition, the album has been voted Album of the Month by leading metal magazines in several countries.

Thanks to everyone who has bought the album!