Extreme Metal Videos

AMON AMARTH will take part in a special signing session at Decibel magazine headquarters (located at 1032 Arch Street, across from the Trocadero Theater) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday, October 19 at 4:00 p.m.

AMON AMARTH was interviewed for this week's "The Metal File" podcast from Montreal's CHOM-FM. Download the show as an MP3 file at this location.

AMON AMARTH's seventh full-length album, "Twilight of the Thunder God", sold more than 11,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 48 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was recorded at Fascination Street Studio in Örebro, Sweden and features several high-profile guest appearances including ENTOMBED singer L.G. Petrov (on "Guardians of Asgaard"), CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist Roope Latvala (who shreds a fierce solo on the track "Twilight of the Thunder God") and Finnish cello metal band APOCALYPTICA (a guest appearance on "Live For The Kill").

The video for the title track off "Twilight of the Thunder God" was filmed on the old Viking site, Jomsborg, home of the Jomsvikings in Wolin, Poland, with the Polish team Group 13 and director Dariusz Szermanowicz. The song features a guest appearance by CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist Roope Latvala.

Raise your swords up high!
See the black birds fly!
Let them hear your rage!
Show no fear!
Attack!

Charge your horses across the fields
Together we ride into destiny
Have no fear of death, when its our time
Oden will bring us home, when we die!

The ground trembles under us
As we make our thunder charge
The pounding hooves spread panic and fear into their hearts
Our helmets shine in the sun as we near their wall of shields
Some of them turn and run
When they hear our frenzied screams!

Draw your swords to strike!
Hear the Black Birds cry!
Let them feel your hate!
Show no fear!

Charge your horses across the fields
Together we ride into destiny
Have no fear of death, when its our time
Oden will bring us home, when we die!

The enemy are in disarray ride them down as they run
Send them to their violent graves don't spare anyone
Dead and wounded lie all around see the pain in their eyes
Over the field an eerie sound, as we hear the ravens cry

We hold the rivers of the eastern trail
Deep in the land of the Rus
Following the wind in our sails
And the rythm of the oars

No shelter in this hostile land
Constantly on guard
Ready to fight and defend, our ship to bitter end

We came under attack
I received a deadly wound
A spear was forced into my back
Still I fought on

When I am dead, lay me in a mound
Raise a stone for all to see
Runes come to my memory!

Here I lie on the river bank
A long long way from home
Life is pouring out of me
Soon I will be gone
I tilt my head, to the side
And think of those back home
I see the river rushing by
The blood runs from my wound

Here I lie, on wet sand
I will not make it home
I clench my sword in my hand
Say farewell to those I love

When I am dead, lay me in a mound
Place my weapons by my side
For the journey to hall up high

When I am dead, lay me in a mound
Raise a stone for all to see
Runes come to my memory!
To my memory

We recently returned from Poland after shooting the first video for the upcoming album "Twilight of the Thunder God". The video will be for the title track.

We joined efforts with the Polish team, Group 13 and director Dariusz Szermanowicz for "Twilight of the Thunder God" and filmed it on the old Viking site, Jomsborg, home of the Jomsvikings in Wolin, Poland.

Our brothers from Jomsvikings traveled from far and wide, places like Poland, Germany, Belgium, England, Australia and USA to be part of this great video.

It seemed that the Thunder God was on our side when shooting the video because a hurricane/storm passed through the area during the day, creating the chaotic and violent atmosphere we were hoping for. It was the toughest conditions we ever recorded a video in, blood and sweat, quite literally both, were part of the making. But we don't mind getting our hands dirty and metal was never supposed to be "nice". In fact we couldn't have wished for a more fitting video shoot for this song, being the Ragnarök and all!

We want to thank Igor for making this possible, Blodhvitnir Meldric and Sana, the Group 13 crew for their professional work and of course the Jomsvikings for being made of steel!


The album and video "Twilight of the Thunder God" will make its debut in September.

Twilight of the Thunder God is the seventh studio album by the Swedish melodic death band Amon Amarth. Twilight of the Thunder God will be released on September 17 in Sweden and Finland, September 19 in Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, and Italy, September 30 in North America and September 22 for the rest of Europe.

In anticipation of this album, there was a series of studio diaries in the form of vlogs that discussed the recording process of this album in the studio. There were six vlogs recorded. The first focused on Fredrik Andersson recording the drums[4]. The second vlog focused on Olavi Mikkonen recording the rhythm guitar position[5]. The third blog focused on Ted Lundström recording bass guitar and band members preparing food. The fourth episode focused on Johan Hegg recording vocals. The fifth video was Johan Söderberg performing and recording guitar solos. The final vlog featured Johan Söderberg packing up the studio and a sneak peak of the album.

There is also a series of 8-page comics titled "Twilight of the Thunder God" which will be released in magazines throughout Europe.

On June 27, 2008, the title of this album was announced, it being "Twilight of the Thunder God". Twilight of the Thunder God features several high-profile guest appearances including Entombed vocalist Lars Göran Petrov on "Guardians of Asgaard", Children of Bodom guitarist Roope Latvala who contributes a solo on the track "Twilight of the Thunder God" and Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica as a guest appearance on "Live for the Kill".

Approximately a month later on July 25, 2008, the album artwork was revealed, featuring Thor, the Norse God of Thunder, in battle with Jörmungandr.

On August 27, 2008, Amon Amarth released the information that they had recently finished work on a video clip for the title track of the album. The video clip was shot in Jomsborg, Poland. The band notes that while they were there, a heavy storm came through the town, resulting in the roughest conditions the band has ever shot a music video in.

Since their humble start in 1992 as an underground band from Tumba, a suburb in southern Stockholm, AMON AMARTH have managed to establish themselves as one of Europe's top death metal acts through hard work, relentless touring, and consistently solid albums. "In the beginning it was just fun to play in our own band with our own songs, and getting a gig at the local youth recreation center was a goal big enough," recalls guitarist and main songwriter Olli Mikkonen. "Of course, goals change as you fulfill them. I always thought we had something special going on, it was just matter of time to convince everyone else."

What has set AMON AMARTH apart from the rest of the death metal scene since the very beginning, is their use of Viking mythology and imagery in lyrics and artwork, as well as a talent for writing epic, memorable melodies, which underline their solemn yet barbaric approach to heavy music. "For me the 'Viking theme' and the Norse mythology is more a philosophy of life", explains singer Johan Hegg. "It's a topic we all can stand for and that I think appeals to a lot of people, even though it also meant we had to fight a lot of prejudices. Especially here in Sweden where the stereotypical view is that people who sing about the Viking heritage are racists. I think we made the right choice though, and I think our music and our lyrics are very closely connected. They suit each other perfectly!"

Since their humble start in 1992 as an underground band from Tumba, a suburb in southern Stockholm, AMON AMARTH have managed to establish themselves as one of Europe’s top death metal acts through hard work, relentless touring, and consistently solid albums. What has set AMON AMARTH apart from the rest of the death metal scene since the very beginning, is their use of Viking mythology and imagery in lyrics and artwork, as well as a talent for writing epic, memorable melodies, which underline their solemn yet barbaric approach to heavy music.

Asator



The band went through the usual demo recordings and line-up changes in the beginning stages, but soon made its first mark with the MCD “Sorrow Throughout The Nine Worlds”. A one-off affair with (of all places) Singapore’s Pulverized Records, this MCD did not only plant AMON AMARTH’s flag in the underground metal landscape, but also gained the band a multi-album deal with the renowned Metal Blade Records.

Fate of Norns


“Once Sent From The Golden Hall”, the group’s Metal Blade debut, was released in 1998, and saw the band touring with such genre greats as Deicide, Six Feet Under, and Brutal Truth. The same year, drummer Martin Lopez left the band to pursue a career with Opeth, being replaced by Fredrik Andersson (previously in A Canorous Quintet). This would be the last line-up change in the band’s career. With a steady formation and an admirable work ethic, AMON AMARTH went on to record and release the albums “The Avenger” (1999) and “The Crusher” (2001) within a time period of two years, touring the European continent extensively in support of these releases. Sharing the stage with the likes of Morbid Angel, Marduk, and Vader, and touring the US for the first time in 2002, the band developed their live act into an unstoppable force, which by now has become one of the pillars of their ever-growing popularity.

Death In Fire


In 2002, the band went into Berno Studios to record “Versus The World”, an album where all the elements that comprise the band’s style, sound, and essence fell right into place. AMON AMARTH toured incessantly to promote this album (3 American and 2 European tours, no less), the press woke up to their qualities, and legions of followers put the band on one level with those acts who had dominated the scene for years on end. This set the stage for “Fate Of Norns”, AMON AMARTH’s breakthrough album and highest charting release to date. Once again recorded at Berno Studios, “Fate Of Norns” saw the band touring Europe and America to ecstatic response from their fans, as well as conquering several new territories, such as Iceland, Mexico, Ireland, Poland, Croatia, and Norway. One of the highlights of the “Fate” touring cycle was undoubtedly when over 30,000 rabid fans gathered in front of the stage at 2AM to celebrate their heroes at Wacken Open Air 2004.

Runes To My Memory


As a tribute to their loyal following, the band released a 3 DVD set entitled “Wrath Of The Norsemen”, comprised of five full shows, in May 2005. With no less than six weeks in the German Music DVD Charts as we speak, the momentum gathered by the band by now is one that marketing strategists and industry people would kill to be able to reproduce. Talent, perseverance, and hard work do pay off after all. Which brings us to “With Oden On Our Side”…

Gods Of War Arise


In January 2006, the band started writing the follow-up to “Fate Of Norns”. Being able for the first time to concentrate 100% on the music, the sessions proved fruitful, as guitarist Olavi Mikkonen confirms: “We nailed down all ideas we had from the past year and we rehearsed 5 days a week, 9 to 5. At the end of the month we had finished a 5 song demo.” After a two-month break, the band returned to write the rest of the material: “We started up where we had left off and began working on all new ideas we had. Again 5 days a week, 9 to 5. This time around we had 4 new songs and the album was written. We had never written an album under these intense circumstances, but we found out that this was totally right for us.” The new masterpiece “With Oden On Our Side” was born.

Cry Of The Blackbirds


As if the norse deity had cast a blessing on AMON AMARTH, the band has emerged with an album that will define a “before” and “after” in their career for years to come. Recorded at Fascination Street Studios with producer Jens Bogren, the majestic riffs, thunderous drums and roaring vocals have never sounded better and more convincing. A match surely made in Valhalla, Mikkonen comments on the collaboration as follows: “We had never worked with a producer before the way it should be done. Jens Bogren took the band to a new level, both production- and sound-wise. Musically, this album is more worked through and, most important of all, we wrote it together as a unit.” A most fearsome and deadly unit, that is now gearing up to crush audiences the world over once again!

Valhall Awaits Me


Pursuit of Vikings

Amon Amarth is a viking-themed melodic death metal band from Sweden founded in 1992 in Tumba, named after a location in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. The name means "Mount Doom" in Sindarin.

The five Swedish musicians are known for their songs based on Norse Mythology, with such tunes as The Arrival of The Fimbul Winter, Pursuit of Vikings and Versus the World.

Formed under the name Scum, they switched to the name Amon Amarth in 1992 and released a demo recording, The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter, in 1994, selling all 1000 demo discs in less than 12 hours. With the release of the album Once Sent From the Golden Hall in 1998 their popularity rose on an international level and since has brought forth multiple U.S. tours, two music videos and appearances in over 100 metal magazines.

Their latest album, With Oden on our Side was released September 22nd (Germany/Austria/Switzerland) / September 25th (Europe) / October 5th (Canada). (Amon Amarth - Wikipedia)

We hold the rivers of the Eastern trail
Deep in the land of the Rus'
Following the wind in our sails
And the rhythm of the oars

No shelter in this hostile land
Constantly on guard
Ready to fight and defend
Ours ships 'til the bitter end

We came under attack
I received a deadly wound
A spear was forced into my back
Still I fought on

When I am dead
Lay me in a mound
Raise a stone for all to see
Runes carved to my memory

Now here I lie on the river bank
A long, long way from home
Life is pouring out of me
Soon I will be gone

I tilt my head to the side
And think of those back home
I see the river rushing by
Like blood runs from my wound

Here I lie on wet sand
I will not make it home
I clench my sword in my hand
Say farewell to those I love

When I am dead
Lay me in a mound
Place my weapons by my side
For the journey to Valhall up high

When I am dead
Lay me in a mound
Raise a stone for all to see
Runes carved to my memory

Amon Amarth: Wrath of the Norseman features several live performances by the Swedish death metal band. Taken from five different live sets, this release offers performances of over sixty songs including "Pursuit of Vikings," "Bastards of a Lying Breed," "Annihilation of Hammerfest," "Where Silent Gods Stand Guard," and "And Soon the World Will Cease to Be."

This is the first disc of a 3 disc box-set. The show was recorded in Cologne (Germany) - 16.08.2005

The playlist :

1. Intro
2. An Ancient Sign Of Coming Storm
3. Pursuit Of Vikings
4. Ride For Vengeance
5. Masters Of War
6. The Last With Pagan Blood
7. Once Sealed In Blood
8. Bastards Of A Lying Breed
9. Fate Of Norns
10. Thousand Years Of Oppression
11. Versus The World
12. North Sea Storm
13. Releasing Surtur's Fire
14. Annihilation Of Hammerfest
15. Friends Of The Suncross
16. Bloodshed
17. Amon Amarth
18. For the Stabwounds In Our Backs
19. Where Silent Gods Stand Guard
20. Bleed For Ancient Gods
21. Victorious March
22. Death In Fire