by Gregory Heaney

It’s easy to be skeptical of live records. Oftentimes they’re put out by labels looking to bring in a little extra money between releases while a band is plugging away on a new record. For Finnish prog metal disciples Amorphis, however, they saw it as a way to give fans not only a look at the band at its live best, but also a candid look behind the scenes. With this two-DVD/two-CD set, Forging the Land of Thousand Lakes, the band does just that. The compilation features two complete live sets, including one of the last shows the band played on its 2009 tour for Skyforger, as well as its set from the 2009 Summer Breeze Open Air Festival. To help fans see what life is like off the stage, the band also put together the documentary Tales from the 20 Years, which is made up of unreleased footage shot by the bandmembers themselves. The two CDs contain all of the songs from the Skyforger set, allowing listeners to experience these Scandinavian epics live without being rooted in front of the television. As if two live sets and a documentary weren’t enough, there’s also a selection of music video clips, photo galleries, and television performances. With so much fan service, Forging the Land of Thousand Lakes is a set that Amorphis fans definitely won’t want to miss.