Finnish melancholic dark rock/metal icons AMORPHIS will be direct support for NIGHTWISH at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California on January 21, 2012. Also appearing on the bill will be DOMMIN. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster.

“The opportunity of playing exclusive show with NIGHTWISH came about around February,” commented AMORPHIS guitarist Esa Holopainen. “We were totally excited about the idea as we didn’t have a chance to do a tour in the U.S. with the ‘Skyforger’ album. Now we have a special show where we will try to offer as much material as possible from the last two albums. It’s a great privilege to be part of an evening which is going to be memorable and special for everyone.”

“The Beginning Of Times”, the new album from AMORPHIS, landed at position No. 1 on the Finnish chart.

Released on May 27 via Nuclear Blast Records, “The Beginning Of Times” is described as “the most challenging AMORPHIS album so far in terms of both music and lyrics.” Its central character is the iconic hero of Finnish mythology, Väinämöinen, whose tale has been masterfully retold by lyricist Pekka Kainulainen.

“The Beginning Of Times” was produced by the band; vocals were recorded under the guidance of Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT) in his home studio in Kuopio. Like its predecessors, the album was mixed by Mikko Karmila. Its cover artwork shows Travis Smith‘s magnificent interpretation of the mythological birth of the world from a goldeneye’s egg.

“The Beginning Of Times” track listing:

01. Battle For Light
02. Mermaid
03. My Enemy
04. You I Need
05. Song Of The Sage
06. Three Words
07. Reformation
08. Soothsayer
09. On A Stranded Shore
10. Escape
11. Crack In A Stone
12. Beginning Of Time
13. Heart’s Song (digipack bonus track)

The “You I Need” video can be viewed below. The clip was filmed on April 29 in Berlin, Germany. Check out photos from the video shoot at Metal-Hammer.de.

“The Beginning Of Times” audio samples:

“You I Need” video: