### Amon Amarth: With Oden on our side

#### 27/09/06 || Lord K Philipson

When Amon Amarth were about to release “Fate of Norns” I met nice guy/pussy-bearded vocalist Johan in Stockholm at some gig. After the usual brotherly hug and laughter I told him that I didn’t think “Norns” matched up to the pretty damn good “Versus the world” album. He said “I agree, but this was the best we could do at the moment”. I dig that honesty. If I run into him again any time soon I’m going to say “Congratulations, “With Oden on our side” is probably yer strongest effort ever”.

I’m fucken sure he’ll agree with that as well.

At times, even if it’s not the case, it feels like Amon’s incorporated a little more death metal into their sound, and I thrown my horns to that. I also applaud the fact that Johan’s vocals are better than ever, and he was always good. It seems like he’s broadened his range a little, and fuck knows it sounds killer. Not only has Johan stepped up to a new’n’improved level, it also sounds like drummer Fredrik did the same. Either that, or Pro Tools worked overtime. I always thought Fredrik was the weak link of Amon Amarth. On this album, that feeling is long gone.

It doesn’t take a whole lot to describe the sound of Amon Amarth, if you ever heard any of their previous work, you know what they sound like. The trademark twin guitar harmonies are all over the place, as usual. The sing along choruses pops up every so often, as usual. The lyrics are about war, vikings, fire and other cool stuff. As usual. Amon Amarth passes for easy listening without them being tedious. As usual. They don’t complicate things but concentrate on composing some serious viking metal (apparently, as soon as you write about vikings and such, your melodic death metal becomes “viking metal”), at which they succeed very well. You could say they are the leaders of the genre, coz they probably are.

Amon Amarth have really managed to compose a pretty damn good album. They sound like they always did, only better this time around. I’m sure Oden helped.

8/10.

Note: Obviously staffer Syrrok creamed all over this album coz a few weeks after I had finished this one I get a coverage from him as well about it. Therefor we work his review into mine. Over to Syrrok:

Welcome to the ultimate conglomeration of all that is Amon Amarth! “With Oden on our Side” is easily the “collectors” disc as this thing puts it all together. I guarantee if you poll the band members they’d say the same: This album is what we ARE!

“Valhall Awaits Me”. Well… what could be more Amon Amarth than that? The riff dictates the same. This is the shit we want, as Amon fans. Those who aren’t Amon fans, this is yer one chance to get on the dragon ship.

While some viking soldiers have deemed their last effort, “Fate of Norns”, something of a disappointment, there is no denying that “With Oden on our Side” is a “return to form” if you must. You musn’t, but as reviewer let me just state that. This latest album is so deathfully thrashy that I’m making the prediction that Amon’ll blow all other bands that they tour with off the fucken stage in the next year or so.

The mid-tempo rhythmic stuff is still there as always, only done more tastefully and in the perfect doses. You can tell when the kids, while in the studio, found that “THAT’S IT!” moment when writing riffs. The problem (and this is the best problem to have) is that in the past Amon Amarth rode those riffs out to the edges of boredom. With age comes wisdom apparently, as the sweet melodic riffages on this one FEEL absolutely perfect in length, and even more perfect in their world domintation/viking clarity.

Hegg is the king of death/war/aggressive vocals, and his skills only expand on this one. OH, AND THE PRODUCTION! The viking lords used a new studio and a new fella behind the switches as you know. Well, this has led to some tremendous shit in terms of mixing the instruments as well as some fade-ins and –outs. Combining the guttural and primal strength that represents the core of Amon Amarth with a producing rocker who can expand that sound to the 2006 level results in penultimate greatness.

Holy fuck this album rocks. Yes I’m a fan (as you can tell), but outside of that I firmly believe that even the non-believers in this band will find “With Oden on our Side” the one album that will remain in your dumb head longer than that new 3-word band name from Pskov.

EVERYONE DRINK BEER OUT OF A TUSK!

9/10.

- Information
- Released: 2006
- Label: Metal Blade
- Website: www.amonamarth.com
- Band
- Johan Hegg: vocals
- Olavi Mikkonen: guitars
- Johan Söderberg: guitars
- Ted Lundström: bass
- Fredrik Andersson: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Valhall Awaits Me
- 02. Runes To My Memory
- 03. Asator
- 04. Hermod’s Ride To Hel (Lokes Treachery Part 1)
- 05. Gods Of War Arise
- 06. With Oden On Our Side
- 07. Cry Of The Black Birds
- 08. Under The Northern Star
- 09. Prediction Of Warfare