Amon Amarth is a supreme melodic death metal band from Sweden founded in 1992 in Tumba, named after a location in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. The name means Mount Doom in Sindarin. The whole themes in their music, artistic proposition and lyrics is heavily or almost solely Viking-based. The five Swedish musicians are known for their songs based on Norse Mythology, with such tunes as The Fate Of Norns, Pursuit of Vikings and Versus the World.
With Oden on Our Side has already hit the charts in the US and all over the metal world! This is actually their seventh release - sixth for Metal Blade - and these mighty Norsemen seem willing enough to continue their victorious march towards the Asgard of modern metal. Some people say that Amon Amarth play music from their heart and this is definitely true in the name of Oden and his sons.
Their music - in this particular album but also on their whole career - combines brutality, aggression as well as very catchy, melodic - but not crappy - vocal or guitar melody lines. Feelings of extreme power to fight for what you believe it is worthwhile fighting start to arise once you start to listen to Amon Amarth. This album is almost as perfect as their previous gem Fate Of Norns. The first video from this album is Runes to My Memory and hopefully there are more to come, especially the title track. The vocal lines of Johan Hegg are so brutal from times to times that can cause your speakers to explode - yet it remains faithful to heavy metal rules. The songs flow really easily and cover a wide range of emotions.
There are many tempo alterationss, as well as many changes in the emotions which are created to us, which make this CD extremely easy listening to, even though if you did not have any previous Viking experience! Their playing and whole attitude really leads you to other places where dignity and the power of the mighty sword really paved the way for the brave ones! They also manage to wake emotions long forgotten and make you feel strong and mighty, through the shit that happen to your life.
With this record they continue their previous glorious saga into the fields of Viking based metal and it is certain that they will gain more popularity and more loyal fans for sure in the direct future! This album is somehow one of the best releases in my opinion for 2006. Highlights of this album can be considered - amongst the other - the following ones: Valhall Awaits Me, Runes to My Memory,  Gods of War Arise, With Oden On Our Side and  Prediction of Warfare -  in a few words almost the whole album!
Go out and grab yourself this fine CD even if you know the band from its previous work or if you decide you wanna listen to how cool tough metal is supposed to sound like in 2006! Lord now I see my father ... leading me to Valhalla, where the brave shall live FOREVER!!!