Devil's Review: Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising

Today might be a historic day. I'm about to get fanboy in a review. Not too many bands these days can I honestly say that it would be extremely difficult to disappoint me in any way. Amon Amarth is one of those bands. While I'm not a big fan of the earlier works from the 90's I have grown to love the direction Amon Amarth has taken over the past five releases. And yes I'm counting Surtur Rising in that list. Some of the complaints I've seen has been that AA has become samey or there is pining for the old days. Well for those people with those complaints, I say to you. Pick up Surtur Rising. Here's why after the jump.

Win A Killer Amon Amarth Prize Package From Revolver Magazine.

Revolver might have a kind of crappy awards show but hot damn if their contests aren't pretty bad ass sometimes. Go to Revolver's website and enter to win a prize pack of some great Amon Amarth swag such as:

* Deluxe Edition of Surtur Rising
* Surtur Action Figure
* Amon Amarth T-shirt
* Metal Blade T-shirt
* Metal Blade Laniard and a bottle opener. You know so you can drink down flagons of ale while wearing sweet gear and listening to Surtur Rising.

I'm not sure when the contest ends so you better enter while you can.

Amon Amarth Releases New Song 'Slaves of Fear'

See, if you wait long enough when something premieres on another site without the embedding ability someone on Youtube will hook you up. Amon Amarth's new track 'Slaves of Fear' premiered on Decibel's website the other day. But guess what? You can save a click and check the song out here. And holy shit do I love this song. Both tracks released so far are exactly what I had hoped for from Amon Amarth. So get your adrenaline pumping as you prep for lunch or dinner time depending on timezones and get your bloodlust going.

Amon Amarth U.S. Tour Dates Announced. Who's With Me?

By Odin's beard this is awesome news. Amon Amarth released it's U.S. tour dates and I must needs venture to this gathering. Wait, am I talking like a Viking? A thousand pardons. Wait, I'm doing it again. Ok this show is going to be bad ass and I really want to be there for it on the 22nd in San Fran. No word yet on who is touring with them but as long as these guys are headlining it should be a good time. Though now that I look at the news blip it says an evening with Amon Amarth. Everytime I've seen that its been just the band in question which would be cool. Here are the dates after the jump.

An Evening With Amon Amarth


4/14/2011 The Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL


4/15/2011 Station 4 - Saint Paul, MN


4/16/2011 Granada Theater - Lawrence, KS


4/17/2011 The Summit Music Hall - Denver, CO


4/19/2011 Wonder Ballroom - Portland, OR


4/20/2011 Showbox Sodo - Seattle, WA


4/22/2011 The Regency - San Francisco, CA


4/23/2011 Ace Of Spades - Sacramento, CA


4/24/2011 House of Blues - West Hollywood, CA


4/25/2011 Nile Theatre - Mesa, AZ


4/27/2011 White Rabbit - San Antonio, TX


4/29/2011 Culture Room - Fort Lauderdale, FL


4/30/2011 Beacham Theatre - Orlando, FL


5/01/2011 Masquerade - Atlanta, GA


5/02/2011 Jaxx - Springfield, VA


5/03/2011 Peabody's - Cleveland, OH


5/05/2011 Best Buy Theater - New York, NY


5/06/2011 Paradise Rock Club - Boston, MA


5/07/2011 Theatre Of Living Arts - Philadelphia, PA

New Amon Amarth Song Premiered. Get Your Viking On!

Oh shit yes. Johann Hegg was interviewed by Full Metal Jackie and the premiere of a new song from the forthcoming 'Surtur Rising' was released. War of the Gods is the track and yes, it's Amon Amarth therefore full of bad ass win. I'm so stoked by this album. And for those people that whine about the older stuff being better. If you don't like this track you need to stop being Amon Amarth fans because there is plenty here you should like. Here we go, start windmilling your head.

Amon Amarth's Artwork is Awesome As Always

I almost got all A's in the subject line. Tell me that's not a kick ass album cover,though. It continues the tradition of highlighting orange and black colors that have appeared on most of their covers.Oh, but that's not all. Amon Amarth have also revealed the track listing for Surtur's Rising.

Surtur Rising Track Listing:
01. War of the Gods
02. Töck's Taunt - Loke's Treachery Part II
03. Destroyer of the Universe
04. Slaves of Fear
05. Live Without Regrets
06. The Last Stand of Frej
07. For Victory or Death
08. Wrath of the Norsemen
09. A Beast Am I
10. Doom Over Dead Man

Yep. That is alot of songs that continue to be the manliest of manly song titles. The album is set to release March 29th via Metal Blade Records. I can't wait to get my greedy hands on a copy and do a review. Each album I have enjoyed more then the previous so hopefully that will continue.

Amon Amarth's Announces new Album info. Declines to cleave your Skull.

This time of year is slow to pretty much a crawl on new music but on the flip side we start getting information on bands that don't suck and their new album release dates.In this case Amon Amarth have announced the new album name to be Surtur's Rising and it's set to be released on March 29th,2011.

I am excite about this because Amon Amarth for the last 4 albums have consistently gotten better with each one and I really can't see being disappointed about this one. At least I hope not but I'm not going to say otherwise because look at those dudes. Would you want to give them the bad news?

For those unaware on who Surtur is, he is the king of giants and basically ushers in Ragnarok or the apocalypse if you will by engulfing the world in flames. I know this because I used to read Thor comics therefore I'm an expert.
Anyone else excited about this news?

Devil Music A-Z: Amon Amarth

Sorry for the lack of posts. I've been busy and checking out a ton of new bands lately which hopefully I'll get to. One of them in question is Amon Amarth. Yeah I got around to these guys after I started this project so the alphabetizing is off, sue me. I've actually gone back to this group a few times over the last couple of years. It seems like my tastes are constantly changing at an alarming rate to where it's taking me 3 or 4 listens before "I get it".

Here is the deal with this group for those that are unfamiliar. They are the manliest men to ever man a stage. I kid of course, sort of. Actually these guys do a form of melodic death metal in the form of perspectives from Vikings of yore. It's like power metal but no wankery and loaded with gruff vocals and alot of depressive themes. Like story time with your old Norwegian grandfather who hates your guts and wants to make you cry.

I've listened to their whole discography and there are two phases to this band. The first three albums are just straight death metal with the same themes but boring in my opinion. All of the songs sound the same and the vocals are incomprehensible. The last 4 albums are where Amon Amarth start to really break the mold and put together something special. You can understand the lyrics which is awesome because it truly is a storytime experience mixing in battles, death, myths, and gods.And musically they've improved as well with lead breaks and actual riffs. I'm really glad I've gone back and checked these guys out and it might take a listen or two for others to get it but their popularity has slowly increased over the years so hopefully this formula stays the same.
Check out some of their videos after the jump.

The Pursuit of Vikings from The Fate of Norns


One of my favorite tracks


This song will make you a man


As close to a ballad as we'll get