AMON AMARTH

Twilight Of The Thunder God

Metal Blade/ CD

Many people don't really understand a genesis of this great success that AMON AMARTH have undoubtedly achieved in the metal music industry. Indirectly, it's probably one of the best promoted bands these days, although Metal Blade aren't idiots but efficient, well- experienced businessmen who are very much aware that's a profitable investment. And so far they have been absolutely right!

The band's status is growing year by year. Great feedback for their releases, sold out shows- it speaks for itself. What does that „AMON AMARTH mania” come from? Are they musical geniuses? No! Maybe most striking musical individualists? No, they aren't. Let's try yet another way. Could we name at least one groundbraking album of AMON AMARTH? I'm sorry... the answer is exactly the same. Someone once said "there are certain things in which mediocrity is just intolerable”. Music as a form of art is definitely one of them. Follow with that, what makes AMON AMARTH soooo popular?

I have my own personal theory on how this band became so big (you may not agree with me). Thus, todays music scene is full of pseudo-geniuses, superegos, megalomaniacs with a messianic complex and so on. Fans who are reading thousands of enthusiastic reviews in music newspapers and webzines are getting pretty bored and tired waiting for something to happen, while most of those bands are just simply overrated and their albums don't fulfill their (fans) expectations. But you are a real fan, and you have already bought those albums, right? That's the way how it works. Do you need an antidote? There's a pretty simple way. Step back and realize, that metal music is neither about technical skills, nor strange experiments with tunes, colours, scales, octaves and so on. Real metal is founded upon heaviness, simplicity and direct approach. That's it. AMON AMARTH is definitely one of those bands who don't want to break the rules. They just play metal which is heavy, simple and direct as hell. Also their newest CD entitled "Twilight Of The Thunder God" doesn't require too much from a listener. You don't need to listen to that CD carefully, seek for connections between note X and note Y. Just put this CD into your CD player, set volume to the max, push „play” and enjoy their bloody heavy riffing, simple mid-tempo parts, massive catchy choruses and awesome melodies. The opening (title) track hits like a thunder and Johan screams like a beast. Listening to his grutling parts and comparing them to vocals from band's previous album I get the impression he lowered his voice slightly. Listen to the second track „Free Will Sacrifice”, especially first two verses („See them gathered on the plains now, see an army stron and vast...) to make sure of it. He really did it! BTW, „Free Will Sacrifice” is one of the highlights, super- heavy massive riffing perfectly blended with that catchy and inspiring melody line in choruses take no slaves. The third cut "Guardians Of Asgaard" features cool guest appearance of LG Petrov. He just puked his guts out in that song and the result is great! By the way, the other guests musicians appearing on that album are guys from APOCALYPTICA (nice cello interludium in "Life For The Kill") and Roope Latvala who played some parts in the title track...

OK, get to the point. I won't bullshit you any longer, there's actually no need to analyze this album track by track. You must be fully aware that each of those 10 songs featured on this CD will blow your head away. „Twilight Of The Thunder God” is neither worse nor better than its predecessors. It's fucking huge!

10/12