Review Summary: Finally back on eight legs
Amon Amarth exemplifies the saying, “Live long enough as the hero to become the villain.” It's not that they have ever released anything unlistenable per se, but rather that after setting the bar high by pretty much defining modern Viking/Norse themed melodeath, they became the benchmark others were easily leaping over. Essentially, a once-revered band had devolved into a nostalgia act, allowing the mead to go stale and becoming an image of genericism. Thankfully, Amon Amarth have found their footing once again, showing their peers that they still have surprises up their gambeson.
Their classic formula remains in droves: soaring guitar melodies over rolling double-bass choruses and heavy, chunky verse riffs. However, the intangible magic that graced classics like Twilight of the Thunder God and With Oden on Our Side, that gave them dense, atmospheric weight, has returned in a big way. Amon Amarth sound energized and reinvigorated; instead of a group going through the motions, they sound confident. This newfound vigor pushes them into uncharted territory for the band, including the group's first acoustic track, “Upphaf.” While surely capitalizing on the trend of Norse influenced folk music, they pull it off well with their own flair. The result is a fun, spirited, and textured campfire tune that breaks up the album's pace without coming across as filler.
We also see them diving deeper into brutality with “Die with a War Cry”, which may possibly be their darkest and heaviest track to date. There are a few moments in the track that recall death-doom bands such as Krypts or Mortiferum, offering some brooding atmosphere and crushing iron. The band continues to impress with the following tracks, including “Oden’s Hunt” which could have easily been a track on Twilight, offering a lively guitar hook and anthemic chorus leading to some interesting twists and turns. The closing track “Ascending like an Eagle” blasts the listener with icy and triumphant riffs, closing things off and disallowing the record to overstay its welcome.
All in allfather, AA have proven they still have some wind left in their sails, steering them away from the shore of stagnation they had found themselves on. For those longing for the glory days, there’s a glimmer here that may invoke a blood-soaked grin in those who have fallen out of love with the band, while keeping the current massive fanbase content. Amon Amarth are here to stay and thankfully, they chose to keep the battle raging rather than lull us to sleep this time around.
