By: Anders

Posted: Nov 22, 2006

The Swedes in Amon Amarth have returned with a crushing album, after the last couple of records, which I personally didn't find to be up to par with the band's earlier material. Though it seems like the good Norsemen have been thinking a thing or 2 through when making the music for this new album, as it has turned out almost as epic, crushing and gripping as the band's godly debut full length album "Once Sent From The Golden Halls", an album still standing as Amon Amarth's magnum opus.

The guitar attack on this album is amazing, the melodies are awe-striking and grandiose, catchy and gripping, the atmosphere the guitars create is often sending shivers down the spine. The guitar work is some of the best, most epic and atmospheric heard from Amon Amarth for a quite a while, not that brutal, but damn enchanting and atmospheric. The drumming is as always killer, Amon Amarth has one of Sweden's best drummers in Fredrik Andersson, a very technical effort he delivers here, always making something besides keeping the beat going, great effort. The bass lines are heavy and punishing, keeping the rhythm in a tight grip, and not that much more. As the usual topping on the cake, are the vocals from Johan Hegg, a powerful and emotional effort, fitting the epic grandness and atmospheres really well.

"With Oden On Our Side" is also a gift production-wise, the sound is damn well executed, the balance is very well weighed and all instruments are placed really well compared to each other. They are also all sounding great, and have a lot of power, without it becomes too much, and they all have all the space they need to show all their potential. A crushing and powerful production fitting the material on the album perfectly, still possessing an organic edge so the melodies and epic moments get their well deserved exposure and sound.

No doubt about this being the strongest and most epic and atmospheric album since the Swedes' debut full length, something I've missed since then, and finally have. I have been blown away by this record and will give it many spins in the future, it grows by each listen and seems very very lasting and strong, if I have to predict how it'll mature, Amon Amarth all the way through, sounding better and stronger than for a long time.

Rating: 9/10

Amon Amarth website

Distributed in Denmark and kindly supplied by Target

Buy the album at

Buy merchandise at

Print