Amon Amarth – With Oden On Our Side
Metal Blade - 2006
By Katalin Sipos
Our favourite vikings are back.
With Oden On Our Side is the sixth full-length in
Amon Amarth’s discography. The music is still viking metal, in this case melodeath with lyrics based on the band’s viking ancestry and Scandinavian tales/mythology in general. So, after fourteen years and six albums written in the same vein, do they fail, or are they able to remain our favourite band? Well, I can reassure their fans that there is still spirit left in these guys!
With five solid records behind them expectations are high, and the many question whether the band can measure up to them? The answer is definitely yes. They are not just repeating the same old formula again and again, instead they always try to add something new; to do things differently here and there, and stay fresh sounding. Till now, the highlight of their career was the powerful
Versus the World album, but I believe the new one will become another milestone in their history.
The music on
With Oden On Our Side has generally became a bit slower and more melodic, and as a result sounds even more epic. This feel was always present, but previously was tempered with a more aggressive edge. Though they are still powerful and furious, the music is just somehow easier to listen to. The riffs are memorable, the choruses are catchy, and guitar leads are more reminiscent of traditional heavy metal. The lyrics are also very well-written - I wish I had the time and space to quote from every song but let’s just sum it up with:
”Victory will be ours”.
Album opener,
’Valhalla Awaits Me’ is an up-tempo thrash song with a thrilling guitar lead.
’Runes To My Memory’,
’Gods Of War Arise’, the title track and
’Cry Of The Black Birds’ are typical
Amon Amarth, while
’Asator’ is their heaviest death metal song written in a while, and as Johann] growls and shouts ’fiiiire’ you wanna join them in battle.
’Hermod’s Ride To Hell’ is a nice epic hymn, slower in pace, just like the melodic
’Under The Northern Star’, or the last song on the album,
’Prediction Of Warfare’.
What else is worth mentioning about
Amon Amarth’s new album? There are two significant things to point out. First, this time around they concentrated 100% on the music - writing and rehearsing everyday. So they had the time to improve, and you can feel it on the songs. Even Johann’s vocals have improved - and I really liked his understandable growl before. Secondly, the band moved to a new studio, namely Fascination Street Studios where they worked with the producer, Jens Bogren (
Opeth, Katatonia, Soilwork).
In conclusion, this is a new beginning and victory will be
Amon Amarth’s!
Official Amon Amarth website
Official Metal Blade Records website
