Amon Amarth – Jomsviking

[schema type=”review” name=”Amon Amarth – Jomsviking” description=”Label: Metal Blade Records” author=”Sabine van Gameren” pubdate=”2016-03-25″ ]
Amon Amarth is a band that hardly needs an introduction. The northern metallers have already brought a whole bunch of releases and countless live shows over two decades of existence. This year the band comes with a brand new album called “Jomsviking”.

After many years of of existence it is always to wonder if a band is still able to bring a surprise for their fans. Amon Amarth may have done that exactly with the release of this album. They have taken a whole different approach, a way they never worked on an album before. The album has a solid concept that is based on a film script. It is a first for them and it did them well. All songs are part of a story but it does not put on off to listen to individual songs either, the story is there but apart they are just as much of a pleasure to listen to.

A bit more melody comes into the album, more than you would be used to but in some songs that comes forward more than in others. The album starts with “First Kill” which is quite catchy. After the first listen it sticks with you, but also because it is the introduction of the story. It tells you how all started and have parts in there that people could relate to. Then you will get some heavier songs that people see a more traditional Amon Amarth in there and with a song like “ Raise Your Horns” you can imagine a live show gets very vivid fast.

The band surprises in bringing the lady Doro Pesch for a duet as well. Unexpected, but do not expect too much of a ballad here, with the powerful sound of Doro the song “A Dream That Cannot Be” is quite different and yet it seem to suit quite well.

Amon Amarth created an album that does not step away from what they have always done but playfully added a different side to it. The concept of the story is there, but is not all. There is much to discover in the release, which is one that you will certainly spend some hours with.

Line up:
Ted Lundström – Bass
Olavi Mikkonen – Guitars
Johan Hegg – Vocals
Johan Söderberg – Guitars

Tracklist: 01. First Kill 02. Wanderer 03. On a Sea of Blood 04. One Against All 05. Raise Your Horns 06. The Way of Vikings 07. At Dawn’s First Light 08. One Thousand Burning Arrows 09. Vengeance Is My Name 10. A Dream That Cannot Be 11. Back on Northern Shores

Links:
Amon Amarth Facebook