Twilight of the Thunder God Review (by Amon Amarth)
CD/DVD. The title of the 2008 album by Amon Amarth is Twilight of the Thunder God. It will feature guest appearances by Lars G”ran Petrov of Entombed, Roope Latvala of Children of Bodom, and the cello metal band Apocalyptica. Along with the release of the album will be an eight-page comic strip based on Norse mythology which will be released by magazines from all over Europe. Amon Amarth will go on a North American headlining tour in October 2008, with support from Ensiferum, Belp (more…)
2.0 out of 5 stars
What’s the Hype
I have to say I’ve never been a fan of Amon Amarth, not to say I haven’t tried. I remember buying Versus the World a few years back after hearing Death in Fire (which i thought…
I have always considered Metallica as my favorite band (yes that is a Amon Amrth review). Then there were the last 15 years and my confidence in my favorite band election was tarnished. The “Black” album was the dusk and the following years brought only darkness and despair. It was recently returned with light, “Death Magnetic”, but let us back into the twilight.
A few years ago I began my metal horizons expand and discovered bands like Ensiferum, Turisas, Einherjer, Unleashed, Wintersun and Tyr to name a few. Somewhere between Ensiferum and Turisas me the album “The fate of the Norn of Amon Amarth (translated as Mount Doom for all you Tolkien fans). Well, I'm of Norwegian heritage, the Viking and hold a special place in my heart. “The fate of the Norne” blew me away. It is the perfect combination of my love of all things metal and my love for all things Viking. I had the perfect band. I had to check their previous work …
It turns out that “The fate of the Norn” was the fifth album in full length our friends from Sweden were released. Their previous efforts, “If from the Golden Hall”, “The Crusher,” “The Avenger” and “Versus the World” beckoned me. The first three albums were more stright forward death metal with a touch here and there, of what to come. “Versus the World” a change in the band, with a much more melodic texture on the bass, pounding death metal machine underneath. It is also where Johan Hegge, the bands prodigiously bearded singer, hit his step. Hegge is, frankly, amazing. I do not have a lead with such a powerful, humming voice, you understand! Every freakin 'word, clear as a bell, and at least half-trained ear! So, I was addicted. “Versus the World” was even better than “Fate of Norn” and I began to wait until their next release …
In 2006 released Amon Amarth “With Oden on our side” to the world. To say, I was not disappointed. It was, I think, better than “Fate of Norn and in some ways better than” Versus the World “. So, now here is a band that I have done to near the top of my favorite bands of all time, and I read that a new three album deal. I start to worry. Is it the beginning of a sell-off? There are guest appearances on the new album. Uh oh. You announce a special addition of “Twilight Of The Thunder God” with a comic book and Bobble Head dolls. I to panic! I want them to become more and more popular (in the U.S.), but they will only waste release from here on? It has become my favorite band …..
… and then I hear the new album. Phew! It is a masterpiece! It is the best album of the band of the seven they have now released. It is mid-tempo melodic tracks, specifically “Varyags the Miklagaard”, “Free Will Sacrifice” and “Live for the Kill”. The title track is brutal and has a brief but excellent guitar solo by Children of Bodom guitarist Roope Latvala. “Guardians of Asgaard” remain in the head, even for a long, long time. You could be an army into battle with “tattered banners and Bloody Flags”. And then there is “Where is your God?”. You can not really understand, Mr. Hegge. But all is forgiven because Amon delivers almost four minutes of pure, unadulterated brutality Viking! The first time I heard it I get a tear, a tear of joy, because it is really hardcore ( “Asator” on crack).
Sun, Amon Amarth supplied. Awesomeness of your chain is unbroken. I will now an even larger library of melodic, brutal death metal Viking. And then I wait. Wait with concern for their next album. Will they pull it back? I believe they have the gods on their side. Do you have any interest at all in Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metal, Viking, head banging, moshing, etc. You owe it to yourself to at least try listening Amon Amarth. I guarantee you will find something you like.
Hail to the mighty Amon Amarth!
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best albums of 2008!
Nothing more to say… I can’t stop listening to it! So powerful, so epic! Oh and the breakdowns are plenty brutal! Get it if you haven’t already!
First of all, I'm not a Death Metal fan. If you've read my review on “With Oden on our side” You know that Amon Amarth was my first real purchase in the Death Metal genre. I moved to them because the music in the snippet I heard was just the kind of thing that I like. Aggressive, even rough, but very nicely melodic. It helped that Johan Hegge's vocals are incredibly easy to understand as he enunciates his growls and sings very rhythmically.
I some of the first reviews for Metal Sites on this CD, and it snapped. While “With Oden on our side” had a few songs that really stuck for me and a few who later rose to more listening, “Twilight of the Thunder God” strikes me as an even more melodic CD. The music is never pushed into the background by the singing and usually lasts in the foreground. I hear it again now, and I am reminded that there are some guitar solos that are not from the place on the traditional heavy metal or power metal CDs.
Another thing I really like about music is that it is heavy and textured. Some other melodic death metal that I thought I might like a little cold, and it was usually a combination of the singers are not too dominant and the music sounds a little thin. There is definitely a strong bass element here that is very beautiful.
While the songs are rare in the usually very fast (most clearly fall into the middle of time “with a few faster songs), focusing on different drums or guitar, the most of them feel unique. I have no favorites, but I like it a whole lot more than their previous efforts.
The special edition has a bonus DVD with some live performances that have a large round package.
What a beautiful album. This could very well be my new favorite CD AA. i cannot stop listening to it. very diverse mixture of old and new styles and everything in between. can this album straight through without skipping over a filler tracks, and IVE done just that several times a day, since they arrived last week. beautiful production. Every instrument is crystal clear. Hegge's vocals sound amazing. If you have any AA fan of this album shouldn't disappoint Cuz It has a bit of everything. if you like Super Heavy brutal, it is “Where is your God?”. If you would like to sing along songs Arena, it's “guardians of Asgaard”, which is sure to be a concert favorite for the coming years. If you like the classic AA sound, there are “Varyags the Miklagaard,” this is my personal favorite. if you like galloping fight songs, then “tattered banners and bloody flags' is for you.
only if the CD is over and you do not think about what could be better than the POP in the free DVD and get your butt joined again . yes a Free DVD. And there are not some bootleg low quality drivel that other bands can be located in just about sales. This is a full concert professionally done. There is something more than an hour. crystal-clear images, letterboxed widescreen display for your enjoyment. 5.1 Surround Sound. beautiful. many songs from their latest album “with Oden on our side.” they could easily sell this concert DVD, and disconnect the fans would buy it. but no. AA is free for you. This is the kind of band.
so if you are a long time AA fan, this is not to disappoint. If you want to AA for the first time, there's no reason why you shouldn't start here Cuz you get a great album presents their style as well as the DVD that some of the older songs.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent album
Excellent album…killer leads on some numbers including Free Will Sacrifice, Twilight Of The Thunder God, and Varyags Of Miklagaard
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amon Amarth’s best yet.
If the last three albums and now this one are any indication, Amon Amarth cannot be stopped. They make one amazing album after another, and the music seems to only get better each…
4.0 out of 5 stars
More Melodic, Yet Still Powerful
This isn’t the best Amon Amarth to date, but it certainly is quite impressive and definitely one of the best albums of 2008.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Death Metal
This CD is a great follow up to “with Oden on our side”. I was quite pleased with this release. This is a recommandation of 5 stars!
5.0 out of 5 stars
Viking metal at it’s best.
Twilight Of The Thunder God was a very nice album, I find this new offering from Amon to be very enjoyable.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely the best metal album of 2008
I’m not a particular fan of Death Metal but this album is just great!
Their best album yet. I can’t wait for the next one.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well Worth It
Having listened to a lot of this band’s previous work, I purchased this cd in preparation for a show which I was going to be seeing.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Twilight of the Thunder God
I’m fairly new to Amon Amarth and not a particularly big fan of death metal (or whichever genre they are supposedly playing), but I must admit that this album absolutely blew me…