Amon Amarth
With Oden on Our Side


4.0
excellent

Review

by loathed USER (9 Reviews)
October 5th, 2006 | 675 replies


Release Date: 2006 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Amon Amarth comes up with an excellent album, without changing much. Sticking to their melodic self, this should make a really enjoyable listen...

Viking metal has always been associated with bands like Bathory, Enslaved, Ensiferum and Wintersun. Another one of those bands is Amon Amarth. Argubly the most well known viking themed metal band in this century. Viking metal is used to describe a band's lyrical content rather than on the music itself. Thus, viking metal bands may also technically be trash, black, death, folk or any metal in general.

Back to Amon Amarth...this band has recieved attention based on their previous few albums, some of which being well recieved by metal fans world wide. Albums like the Fate of Norns and Versus the world to name a few. Amon Amarth is more of a melodic death metal band, with the lyrics being viking themed, and their new release, With Oden On Our Side being more than an enjoyable listen.

Amon Amarth is:

Fredrik Andersson - drums
Johan Hegg - vocals
Johan Söderberg - guitar
Olavi Mikkonen - guitar
Ted Lundström - bass


With Oden On Our Side is straight out melodic stuff. The album starts off with Valhall awaits me, which in itself is a pretty good opener. The vocals on this album are the death grunts that you get in death metal. Although not as extreme as a traditional death metal growl. Hegg uses the grunt all throughout this album, and although sometimes it may become repetitive and boring after a few listens, im pretty sure his voice suits the music. There are basically no standouts from Hegg as he does nearly the same thing for every song.

Most of the songs on this album has tremolo picked riffs (if im not wrong). Again, too much of it may not be really good, but it does give the songs that melodic edge that this band is known for. I dig it. But of course, Soderberg and Mikkonen do come up with some non-tremolo but yet still outstanding riffs, like the one in Cry of the black birds and With Oden on our side...the title track. Like what you'd expect from a melodic death band, there are some solos here and there, but not on every song. There is a good solo in the opening track Valhall awaits me and another on the less melodic but more brutal Asator. The guitarists do not really shred on here, but they still solo well, concentrating more on melody and emotion. The guitar has a good tone to it, and they've done what they intended to well - that is to craft good melodic riffs. Every song is memorable in itself because of the ever-present melody.

The bass is generally not heard most of the time...(like well, duh?). Or it maybe due to my headphones, i dont really know. But anyway, Lundstrom may not be the best bassist in the world. Heck, he may not even be one of the top 30, but he still contributes to the band. Plays well in co-operation with the drums and guitars. But then again, i would have loved to have him had more exposure and show off some of his skills. The drums, courtesy of Andersson is good, if not excellent. Double bass drumming can be heard virtually on most of the songs, and there are some odd but awesome fills here and there. The fact that he is also consistent as well, just does more good to the album. Again, he may not be the most technically skilled of the drummers, but unlike Andersson, he sometimes showcases his talent with some blast beats? and quick-fire like double bass.

The production on this album is crisp and clean. The guitars, drums and vocals can all be heard really clearly, and although the bass is sometimes drowned out, the production is still pretty kick-ass.

Overall, this album is a strong one. Comprising of the more melodic side of death metal and sometimes even, i dare say emotional, which you can find in songs like Runes to my memory...which btw sounds really epic when it reaches that 1:40 mark and that awesome melodic, yet simple riff is played. Another "emotional" song on here would obviously be the slower paced song of the album, Under the northern star and maybe even Cry of the black birds.

Some recommended songs would be the title track, cry of the black birds, valhall awaits me and gods of war arise. but then again, you really need the whole thing.

Pros:
Good melodic stuff!
riffs are melodic, sometimes emotional
drumming is up to standard

Cons:
May get repetive after a few listens
Bass drowned out
Not much vocal variation

Overall...this gets a 4 from me. Excellent work done by the Amon Amarth guys. This should be in every melodic death, or just melodic metal in general's CD shelf.



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user ratings (1677)
4
excellent
other reviews of this album
Epsilon (4.5)
Amon Amarth is a Melodic Death Viking themed band. With each release their skills are only more enha...

Dethtrasher (4.5)
The Vikings would've been proud if they where listening to this crushing metal album....

Altmer (4)
Melodic death metal without the cheese. And more death metal. And that is a good thing....

myhigherpie (4)
Tits N' Mead m/(>_...



Comments:Add a Comment 
loathed
October 5th 2006


174 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

my 5th review...beginning to enjoy reviews now.



This is a really strong album, but Insomnium's Above the weeping world still tops it by abit though.



Comments?

Xander_Christ
October 5th 2006


132 Comments


Vikings are creepy.
Good review.

whatsgrimace
October 5th 2006


47 Comments


I have been meaning to check out Amon Amarth for awhile. They sound great by your description. Nice job.

Thor
October 5th 2006


10357 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Amon Amarth only really needs to have one sound, because it works every time!

BeaZ
October 6th 2006


4 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I didn't mind this album, some of the riffs are awesome, overall pretty cool but the vocals are heaps better in the older albums. Once Sent From The Golden Hall ftw.

raz0r
October 13th 2006


3 Comments


This album is right up there with Versus the World in my opinion.
Some great riffage, creative drumming, nice vocals, just all round a great album.

violentmog
October 16th 2006


74 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

I definitely need to pick this one up. I've heard a few tracks and definitely like what I hear. If this album is as melodic as you say, I will be very pleased!

atalackofwrds
October 22nd 2006


69 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

This album does kick major ass...great review too.

r0wney
October 23rd 2006


24 Comments


pretty good album

BloodyRoot
October 31st 2006


6 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

If you are a fan of Dissection (which I am), I would highly recommend this album. There are some great songs on this one. I really like Runes To My Memory.

amcmillon
November 30th 2006


5 Comments


good review man, this album is really good. asator is one of my favorites. can't wait to see these guys in less than a week with gojira and bodom

FR33L0RD
December 17th 2006


6400 Comments

Album Rating: 5.0

Superb LP

Very nice mix of melody top quality riffs

I just love it.

wisechick80
February 2nd 2007


12 Comments


One of the best metal bands out there.

Confessed2005
February 4th 2007


5986 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

An awesome album. I love Cry Of The Blackbirds so much.

freudianslipknot
February 4th 2007


803 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Agreed - that song is awesome

Wizard
February 6th 2007


20562 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Your descriptions are pretty vague and insight nothing of what this album has to offer. Not a bad review, but Im sure you will improve your next tme around. A descent album, but definately not a 4 (thats just my opinion though). They at least pushed their melody up into the mix a bit better on this album. Their last few albums are pretty raw in terms of the amount of distortion they used. Nice to see some leads take over.

alurny
March 8th 2007


22 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

What an album has grown on me so much since I brought it a couple on months ago. Cry of the Blackbirds is a definite winner.

Mikesn
Emeritus
March 8th 2007


3707 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yes, this album is definitely glorious.

diefamous
March 9th 2007


281 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

This album is amazing, I love every song on it, but I do agree that he should use more variation with his vocals, even though the one he uses is pretty badass.

rockfan
April 6th 2007


38 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

"Raise your sword up high, hear the balck birds cry.................."



oh yea!!



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