AMON AMARTH “Fate Of Norns” /CD/

Embroidered bordered woven patch.

85x35mm 

First re-release on CD of the debut full-length album by the cult Swedish Melodic Death Metal band.
When a band is named after the Mountain of Doom in Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, you're pretty much guaranteed Epic Metal at its most extravagant. But despite their lyrical bent (including Dungeons & Dragons titles like "Ride for Vengeance", "Victorious March", and "The Dragons' Flight Across the Waves"), Sweden's Amon Amarth eschews the expected Germanic Power Metal usually associated with such subject matter for brutally intense Scandinavian Death Metal. Firmly rooted in the At the Gates school, the band doesn't really break any new ground here. But they get the job done with plenty of spirit, more than competent songwriting, and excellent musicianship - most notably from future Opeth drummer Martin Lopez. The song that bears the band's namesake is probably the most memorable, as it contains the chaotic noises of battle, the screams of the dying, and much sword-clashing to boot. Ultimately, Amon Amarth's war hymns often take themselves a bit too seriously and are bound to provoke either delirious head-banging or irresistible laughter, but what else would you expect from good Heavy Metal?
The album was originally limited and only 1000 copies were sold on CD and LP versions. It was re-released in 2005 on Picture LP with 500 hand-counted copies.
Martin Lopez left the band soon after the release of this album to join Swedish band Opeth.
Remastered re-edition features bonus track "Siegreicher Marsch (Victorious March)".
Metal Blade Records GmbH, 1998/2009 (3984-14716-2). Made in Germany. Pressed in EU.


Tracklist:
1. Ride For Vengeance 4:28
2. The Dragons Flight Across The Waves 4:35
3. Without Fear 4:50
4. Victorious March 7:56
5. Friends Of The Suncross 4:42
6. Abandoned 6:01
7. Amon Amarth 8:06
8. Once Sent From The Golden Hall 4:14
Bonus Track:
9. Siegreicher Marsch (Victorious March) 7:56
Total playing time: 52:48


Samples: http://www.last.fm
https://soundcloud.com

The sixth full-length album by the cult Swedish Melodic Death Metal band.
Aside from being a brilliant return to form, "With Oden On Our Side" also marked the first time that Amon Amartth took sound quality seriously. All of their previous full-length albums a thin, reedy quality to them. Jens Bogren’s superb mixing and engineering changed all of that - "With Oden On Our Side" sounds fantastic.
On the album opening "Valhall Awaits Me", singer Johan Hegg's vocal lines aren't merely growled syllables. But don't be worried, longtime Amarth fans, it's not like the Swedish outfit has enlisted the help of Burt Bacharach to soften things up, as Hegg's vocals do resort back to the expected Death Metal growl soon enough, especially on such tracks as "Under the Northern Star". Yet all the while, Hegg manages to hold his own against the riffs and sometimes-Iron Maiden-esque guitar harmonies supplied by Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg. The aforementioned guitar duo also shows they have a talent for penning Industrial strength riffs as well, evidenced by such tracks as "Hermods Ride to Hell" and "Runes to My Memory". Fredrik Andersson’s kick drum shakes the very Earth, and would frighten any army stupid enough to challenge these Vikings. Cymbals are distinct and each hit reverberates out into the room. Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg’s guitars and Ted Lundström’s bass have weight and power behind them that brickwalled CDs can only dream about. This album simply destroys the argument that Metal “needs to be loud”. Metal needs to be dynamic! Let the listener decide what the volume should be.
The album cover art features the Norse God Odin riding on his fabled octopedal horse Sleipnir in a depiction borrowed from the Tjängvide image stone. The background depicts the Valknut, a symbol whose meaning is uncertain, though archeological evidence clearly shows it to be associated with Odin. Letters of the Runic alphabet can be seen on the edges of the triangles forming the Valknut. The Runes on top spell out "With Oden on our Side", whereas the bottom right runes spell "Amon Amarth" using characters from the Elder Futhark.
It's band's first album to enter the Billboard charts, the Top Heatseekers and the Independent Albums chart, peaking at number 15 and number 26 respectively.
"With Odin On Our Side" shows that Amon Amarth continue to be champions of the worldwide Death Metal tournament!!
Metal Blade Records GbmH, 2006 (3984-14584-2). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Valhall Awaits Me 4:43
2. Runes To My Memory 4:32
3. Asator 3:04
4. Hermod's Ride To Hel - Lokes Treachery Part 1 4:40
5. Gods Of War Arise 6:02
6. With Oden On Our Side 4:34
7. Cry Of The Black Birds 3:49
8. Under The Northern Star 4:17
9. Prediction Of Warfare 6:38
Total playing time: 42:19


Samples: http://www.last.fm
https://soundcloud.com

The seventh full-length album by the cult Swedish Melodic Death Metal band.
Alongside "With Oden On Our Side", "Twilight Of The Thunder God" just might be the strongest record Amon Amarth has written thus far. Certainly, it's essentially the same as all the rest of their albums, but it manages to get by without sounding redundant or stagnant. And this is certainly more than most of their contemporaries can attest to, there's no denying that.
If Extreme Metal existed back in the days of Vikings, Sweden's Amon Amarth would undoubtedly be the musical choice of vessels sailing rough and treacherous seas. And on the seventh studio effort overall by the quintet, Amon Amarth sticks closely to the same sound and approach that got them this far in the first place. But unlike their prior studio efforts, several renowned names within the Metal community drop by to lend a heavy hand, including Entombed vocalist Lars-Göran Petrov on "Guardians of Asgaard", Children Of Bodom guitarist Roope Latvala provides a guitar solo on the title track, while Apocalyptica is heard on "Live for the Kill". As evidenced by such ditties as "Varyags of Miklagaard" and "Tattered Banners and Bloody Flags", technically demanding musicality, Godzilla-like growls, and rhythms/tempos compared to horses galloping into war are all proudly on display throughout "Twilight Of The Thunder God".
All in all, "Twilight Of The Thunder God" is simply a fun listen, and one of the most exciting Metal albums of the year, nothing more, nothing less. Considering that that is most likely all that Amon Amarth set out to do, they've passed with flying colours!
The album debuted at number 50 on the Billboard 200, and debuted at number 11 on the Swedish album charts. This makes the band's first album to chart on the top 200, and also the band's highest chart debut in their native country of Sweden, debuting 10 places higher than their previous release, "With Oden On Our Side". Also the album was ranked number six on Metal Hammer's Top 50 Albums of 2008.
Metal Blade Records GbmH., 2008 (3984-14693-2). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Twilight Of The Thunder God 4:09
2. Free Will Sacrifice 4:09
3. Guardians Of Asgaard 4:23
4. Where Is Your God? 3:11
5. Varyags Of Miklagaard 4:18
6. Tattered Banners And Bloody Flags 4:30
7. No Fear For The Setting Sun 3:52
8. The Hero 4:02
9. Live For The Kill 4:10
10. Embrace Of The Endless Ocean 6:44
Total playing time: 43:28


Samples: http://www.last.fm
https://soundcloud.com

The eighth full-length album by the cult Swedish Melodic Death Metal band.
Amon Amarth's eighth album is an important one in their discography, because it follows their breakthrough disc, 2008's "Twilight Of The Thunder God". That album, laden with guest appearances (Children of Bodom's Roopi Latvala, Entombed's LG Petrov, the cellists of Apocalyptica), was the Swedish band's most elaborate and powerful statement to date.
The album's ten songs are typical anthemic Amon Amarth tracks, built for headbanging and chanting along with the powerful, warrior's-code choruses. Some, like "Destroyers of the Universe" and "War of the Gods", but particularly "A Beast Am I", are among the fastest songs the band has ever recorded, while others, like "Töck's Taunt: Loke's Treachery, Pt. II" and "The Last Stand of Frej", are slow, even brooding.
The production has a bit more aggression than "Twilight" had, but the songs are arguably even catchier this time out, with some surprisingly clean guitar leads and atmospheric melodies emerging from the hair-spinning roar. A few subtle production flourishes, the sounds of clashing swords on "War of the Gods" and crying ravens on "Töck's Taunt," plus some strings on "For Victory or Death" and the album-closing "Doom Over Dead Man", bolster the sound somewhat, but other than that it's up to the five members of Amon Amarth to keep the listener happy with nothing but guitars, bass, drums, and Johan Hegg's barrel-chested roars, and they do that with admirable skill.
They're one of the most consistent bands in Metal and this is a terrific example of them playing to their strengths!
Metal Blade Records Inc., 2011 (3984-15006-2). Made in Germany. Pressed in Austria. First press.


Tracklist:
1. War Of The Gods 4:33
2. Töcks's Taunt - Loke's Treachery Part II 5:59
3. Destroyer Of The Universe 3:41
4. Slaves Of Fear 4:25
5. Live Without Regrets 5:03
6. The Last Stand Of Frej 5:38
7. For Victory Or Death 4:30
8. Wrath Of The Norsemen 3:44
9. A Beast Am I 5:14
10. Doom Over Dead Man 5:56
Total playing time: 48:43

Remastered re-release of the fourth full-length album by the cult Swedish Melodic Death Metal band.
First Amon Amarth album to showcase a more midpaced and heavy sound, unlike their earlier faster works. Band return with another terrain flattening, Viking-obsessed Death Metal platter.
Vocalist Johan Hegg alternates between a whispery low rumble and an upper-register shriek, both of which are surprisingly able to render the lyrics quite intelligible at times. What's possibly most impressive about "Versus The World" is the ebb and flow of the record; there is an engaging variety of moods, tempos and textures that is lacking from the work of many similar bands. The songs are truly songs, which are thoughtfully arranged and manage to deliver melody and even beauty, along with moments of extreme brutality.
The name of Amon Amarth ever since their beginnings stands for heaviness, mighty, pounding compositions that make you imagine the Viking warriors on their dragon ships, fighting against intruders or being out on a pillage tour; stands for grand melodies, lines, no, arches of great melodies that intertwine with the powerful and crushing rhythm-guitars, forming an all-encompassing machine, towering over you, shadowing everything in its monumental size; stands for a forceful sound that definitely can blow you against the wall and hold you there with ease.
Amon Amarth seem to be incapable of doing a weak album and with their trademarks they not only managed to create another high quality masterpiece, but they definitely also have their own sound within the much crowded Death Metal scene, as the title implies, these five Swedes take on the world, with an album like "Versus The World", the odds are damn good that they will conquer it!!
In 2005, "Versus The World" was ranked number 413 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.
Metal Blade Records GmbH, 2002/2011 (3984-14791-2). Made in Germany. Pressed in Austria.


Tracklist:
1. Death In Fire 4:56
2. For The Stabwounds In Our Backs 4:57
3. Where Silent Gods Stand Guard 5:47
4. Vs The World 5:20
5. Across The Rainbow Bridge 4:49
6. Down The Slopes Of Death 4:08
7. Thousand Years Of Oppression 5:40
8. Bloodshed 5:15
9. And Soon The World Will Cease To Be 6:57
Total playing time: 47:46


Samples: http://www.last.fm

64mm x 64mm