Entry 044 - Amon Amarth - With Odin on Our Side

 

There aren't many bands that I can say I've been with since the beginning. Amon Amarth are one of the few that I discovered with their debut and have followed to varying degrees ever since.

Amon Amarth could easily be classified as the AC/DC of death metal/viking metal. They release new albums consistently in the same style. Each being fair to good in quality and never varying from their core formula. On some albums that formula is stronger than on others, and With Odin on our Side this formula may be perfected.

Amon Amarth play mid paced melodic death metal. Usually the lead guitar plays a simplistic but highly catchy tremolo riffs while the second guitar backs with a similarly paced chord. The rhythm section usually compliments the guitars well without standing out for either positive or negative reasons. This is how nearly every Amon Amarth album could be described... so what sets this one apart?

For one the intensity at which its played. There is a conviction to this album that was missing from every album since the debut. Johann's vocals have also take a huge step up on this release. They underwent a big change in Vs. the World however here he really seems to be comfortable in the lower registers. Finally, the melodies here are just a step above the releases before and after this release.

I could probably talk about the small things that set With Odin on Our Side apart for hours. Ultimately this is just one of those albums that is a treat to listen to, it uses simplicity as a weapon rather than a detriment. The kind of album that headbanging was invented for.