AMON AMARTH FEATURE ARTICLE

\r\nFormed under the name Scum in 1988, the band was originally a grindcore group formed by Themgoroth (Dark Funeral), Olavi Mikkonen (guitar), and Ted Lundström (bass guitar). When Johan Hegg joined the band, their music changed towards melodic death metal. After a 1991 demo, they changed the band’s name to Amon Amarth in 1992 then recorded their first demo Thor Arise under the name in 1993 following a demo, The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter, in 1994, selling all 1000 demo discs in less than 12 hours.\r\n

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\r\n Burning creation
\r\nThe arrival of the fimbul winter Without fear
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\r\nReleased in 1000 copies. Sold out.Recorded in studio Lagret 1994 Engineered by "Söder" \r\n

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\r\nThe 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.\r\n

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\r\n Sorrow throughout the nine worlds
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\r\nSorrow throughout the nine worlds 3:51
\r\nThe arrival of the fimbul winter 4:26
\r\nBurning creation 5:04
\r\nThe mighty doors of the speargod’s hall 5:43
\r\nUnder the greyclouded sky 5:38
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\r\nRecorded at Abyss Studio November 1995
\r\nMixed and engineered by Peter Tägtgren.
\r\nCover by Amon Amarth, Layout by Honvie  \r\n

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\r\n“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. \r\n

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\r\nOnce sent from the golden hall
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\r\nRide for vengeance 4:28
\r\nThe Dragon’s flight across the waves 4:33
\r\nWithout fear 4:50
\r\nVictorious march 7:56
\r\nFriends of the suncross 4:42
\r\nAbandoned 6:00
\r\nAmon amarth 8:06
\r\nOnce sent from the golden hall 4:11
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\r\nRecorded at Abyss Studio autumn 1997
\r\nEngineered by Peter Tägtgren.
\r\nCover by Peter Kinmark. \r\n

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\r\nThe 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. \r\n

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\r\nThe Avenger
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\r\nBleed for ancient god’s 4:31
\r\nThe last with pagan blood 5:39
\r\nNorth sea storm 4:55
\r\nAvenger 7:11
\r\nGod, his son and holy whore 4:00
\r\nMetalwrath 3:49
\r\nLegend of a banished man 6:08
\r\n*Thor arise 5:07
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\r\nRecorded at The Abyss studio, March 1999
\r\nEngineered and Mixed by Peter Tägtgren
\r\nMastered at Cuttingroom Stockholm by Peter In The Betou
\r\nCover and layout by Thomas Everhard \r\n

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\r\nSharing 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. 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. \r\n

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\r\n Versus The World
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\r\nDeath In Fire 4.56
\r\nFor The Stabwounds In Our Backs 4.57
\r\nWhere Silent Gods Stand Guard 5.47
\r\nVersus The World 5.20
\r\nAcross The Rainbow Bridge 4.49
\r\nDown The Slopes Of Death 4.08
\r\nThousand Years Of Oppression 5.40
\r\nBloodshed 5.15
\r\nAnd soon the world will cease to be 6.57
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\r\nRecorded at Berno Studio
\r\nProduced by Berno and Amon Amarth
\r\nCover by Tom Thiel and Thomas Everhard.\r\n

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\r\nAMON 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. \r\n

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\r\nFate of Norns
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\r\nAn Ancient Sign of Coming Storm
\r\nWhere Death Seems to Dwell
\r\nFate of Norns
\r\nThe Pursuit of Vikings
\r\nValkyries Ride
\r\nThe Beheading of a King
\r\nArson
\r\nOnce Sealed in Blood\r\n

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\r\nAs 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”… \r\n

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\r\nIn 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.\r\n

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\r\nAs 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!\r\n

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\r\nAMON AMARTH’s popularity reached levels usually reserved for far less extreme artists, save for very few exceptions. The band decided to thank their fans old and new in their very own way: The triple DVD-set "Wrath Of The Norsemen", released in 2006, offered value for money, and with the Viking deity Odin as their personal protector, "With Oden On Our Side" became the strongest and most varied album of their career. After using Berno Studios a few times, the band had finally arrived at Jens Bogren’s Fascination Street Studios. The group’s already triumphant shows were further enhanced by Viking battle action and a specially designed dragon ship. AMON AMARTH seemed to have reached their zenith.\r\n

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\r\nIn the spring of 2008, almost exactly two years after the last time they began recording, the band returned to Bogren’s studio in Örebro to show there was still room for improvement with "Twilight Of The Thunder God". "Jens gave us new ideas and perspectives about songwriting and sound", explains Johan Hegg. AMON AMARTH’s songs have become more varied than ever, incorporating the roots of death metal as well as showing openness towards different styles. Up to now, the Norse themes had provided the only connection with the traditional scene of their hometown. This time Johan sings a duet with L.G. Petrov, the only true Entombed singer, on the mid-tempo scorcher "Guardians Of Asgaard". The title track and "Where Is Your God?", the former an uptempo hymn, the latter probably the most brutal AMON AMARTH track of all time, seem like the best letter of recommendation the band could have needed for the "Unholy Alliance" tour, which will take Hegg and Co. through Europe alongside Slayer, Trivium and Mastodon later this year. Johan: "All of us have been huge fans of Slayer since the mid 80s, and to be able to tour with this legendary thrash band is a dream come true." "The Hero", on the other hand, continues to draw from the band’s melodic potential. The well-dosed appearance of Apocalyptica’s string prowess in "Live For The Kill" shouldn’t put anyone off, since AMON AMARTH always retain their predominance, keeping the song together. The band’s credo? "We have developed our sound without changing too much. We don’t want to upset our fans." The only track that is epic in length as it is in content, "Embrace Of the Endless Ocean", completes the Twilight of the Thunder God. AMON AMARTH refuse to stagnate musically as well as in their appearance: A comic serves as companion for the countdown to the release of "Twilight Of The Thunder God". \r\n

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\r\nThe long awaited masterpiece from the Gods of the North
\r\nAvailable\r\nas regular CD, Gatefold-2-LP or as a limited Deluxe Collectors\r\n3-disc-edition incl.
\r\nbonus CD and bonus DVD (Live at Summer Breeze)\r\nplus 40-page-book!\r\n

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\r\nCD, LP:
\r\n01. Twilight Of The Thunder God       
\r\n02. Free Will Sacrifice       
\r\n03. Guardians Of Asgaard       
\r\n04. Where Is Your God?       
\r\n05. Varyags Of Miklagaard       
\r\n06. Tattered Banners And Bloody Flags       
\r\n07. Noo Fear For The Setting Sun       
\r\n08. The Hero       
\r\n09. Live For The Kill       
\r\n10. Embrace Of The Endless Ocean       
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\r\nBonus CD/DVD (live at Summer Breeze 2007):
\r\n01. Intro       
\r\n02. Valhall Awaits Me       
\r\n03. Runes To My Memory       
\r\n04. Cry Of The Black Birds       
\r\n05. Asator       
\r\n06. Pursuit Of Vikings       
\r\n07. Fate Of Norns       
\r\n08. Without Fear       
\r\n09. With Oden On Our Side       
\r\n10. Where Silent Gods Stand Guard       
\r\n11. An Ancient Sign Of A Coming Storm       
\r\n12. Victorious March       
\r\n13. Death In Fire     \r\n

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\r\nAMON AMARTH’s brand new album, ’Twilight of the Thunder God’, debuts at #48 on the Billboard Top 200 chart today, shifting over 11,000 units in its first week of release. Released in North America on September 30 via Metal Blade Records, ’Twilight of the Thunder God’ is AMON AMARTH’s seventh full-length album, and is the highest American charting record in the band’s sales history. ’Twilight of the Thunder God’s first week sales are roughly three times the opening tally of its predecessor, ’With Oden on Our Side’, which premiered with 3,400 units sold back in October, 2006. ’Twilight of the Thunder God’ also debuted at #5 on the Billboard Independent Albums Chart, #6 on the Billboard Hard Albums Chart, #12 on the Billboard Tastemakers Chart and at # 16 on the Billboard Rock Albums Chart.
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\r\nAdditionally, AMON AMARTH vaults to the #1 position at college radio. Propelled by the single and video for the album’s title track, ’Twilight of the Thunder God’ sits atop the CMJ Loud Rock chart, besting new albums by Metallica, All That Remains, Trivium and Slipknot amongst others.
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\r\nThe new AMON AMARTH album has received an overwhelming welcome from metalheads all over Europe! ‘Twilight Of The Thunder God’ landed on position 6 on the official German Longplay Charts, which marks the highest chart entry in the history of the band as well as Metal Blade Europe! “Germans know great beer, high quality cars, good bratwurst and they have a good taste for music. Germany has become a home away from home for us, all thanks to our amazing fans that have shown us fantastic support and loyalty from the very start of our career. You are truly metal and true Vikings!” ‘Twilight Of The Thunder God’ entered the Charts in several other countries as well. All the entries are higher than the ones the band got for the predecessor of ‘Twilight Of The Thunder God’, ‘With Oden On Our Side’! Im some countries it’s the first chart entry ever for AMON AMARTH.
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\r\n“We would like to thank all our fans for all the fantastic support. Without you this would never have been possible! You are the f***ing best!”
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\r\nOverview European Chartentries ‘Twilight Of The Thunder God’:
\r\nGermany - # 6 – Official Album Charts
\r\nFinland # 10 – Official Album Charts
\r\nSweden - # 11 – Official Album Charts
\r\nAustria # 14 – Official Album Charts
\r\nSwitzerland - # 21 – Official Album Charts
\r\nNorway - # 50 - Official Album Charts
\r\nBelgium - # 71 - Official Album Charts
\r\nDenmark - # 82 – Official Album Charts
\r\nNetherlands - # 87 – Official Album Charts
\r\nUnited Kingdom - #126 - Official Album Charts / #8 - Top 40 Rock & Metal Chart / #11 - Top 50 Independent Album Chart\r\n

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\r\nOn  January  2009 they announced re-issues of their first four albums to appear in 2009! The series will kick off with‘Once Sent From The Golden Hall’, which will be released as a double-popup-digipak featuring two discs! Disc one features the entire ‘Once Sent From A Golden Hall’ album remastered plus the bonus track ‘Siegreicher Marsch’ (German version of ‘Victorious March’)! \r\n

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\r\nDisc two features the live recording of the show AMON AMARTH played on the 28th of December, 2008 in Bochum, Germany, where they played the album in its entirety. The order of songs is the same as on disc one (excluding ‘Siegreicher Marsch’)!
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\r\nThis re-issue (and all the ones to follow during 2009) will be released as an 8-sided Double-Digipak with individual pop-up! All four pop-ups attached to each other will show a special three-dimensional pic! The re-issue also features liner notes by the band and will be released for the price of a regular CD.
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\r\nTracklisting ‘Once Sent From The Golden Hall’:
\r\n1. Ride For Vengeance
\r\n2. The Dragons´ Flight Across The Waves
\r\n3. Without Fear
\r\n4. Victorious March
\r\n5. Friends Of The Suncross
\r\n6. Abandoned
\r\n7. Amon Amarth
\r\n8. Once Sent From The Golden Hall
\r\n9. Siegreicher Marsch (German version of Victorious March)
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\r\nThe 2-disc re-issue of ‘Once Sent From A Golden Hall’ will be released on the 27th of February in D/A/CH/I and the 2nd of March in the rest of Europe!
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\r\nAMON AMARTH LineuP:
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\r\nJohan Hegg - vocals
\r\nOlli Mikkonen - guitar
\r\nJohan Söderberg - guitar
\r\nTed Lundström - bass
\r\nFredrik Andersson - drums\r\n

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\r\nMetalzone.gr\r\nin co-operation with Anosi Productions is pleased to announce the launch of\r\nAmon Amarth Competition. Send in your emails in [email protected] with Amon Amarth on\r\nthe Subject title and tell us the title of Amon Amarth’s latest album, released\r\nin 2008. Be sure to include your full name and a phone number where we can\r\nreach you. The three lucky winners will get the chance to attend Amon Amarth’s\r\nlive appearance in Athens\r\non February 14^th for free!\r\n

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\r\n \r\nFor those\r\nof you who also listen to Metalzone Internet Radio on February 13^th,\r\non Hellena’s Radio show – you’ll get a chance to listen to a special feature on\r\nAmon Amarth. By the end of the show you’ll have the chance to win 2 more\r\ninvitations to the show. \r\n

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\r\nEdited by Hellena Mihailidou \r\n

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