Amon Amarth

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For the Middle-earth location, see Mount Doom.
Amon Amarth
Amon Amarth live in 2011
Amon Amarth live in 2011
Background information
OriginTumba, Sweden
Years active1992–present
LabelsMetal Blade
MembersOlavi Mikkonen
Johan Hegg
Ted Lundström
Johan Söderberg
Fredrik Andersson
Past membersAnders Hansson
Nico Kaukinen
Martin Lopez
Websiteamonamarth.com

Amon Amarth is a melodic death metal band from Tumba, Sweden, founded in 1992.[1] It takes its name from the Sindarin name of Mount Doom, a volcano in J. R. R. Tolkien′s Middle-earth. Their lyrics mostly deal with the Vikings, their mythology and their history. The band comprises vocalist Johan Hegg, guitarists Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg, bassist Ted Lundström and drummer Fredrik Andersson. Amon Amarth has released nine studio albums, one EP, one DVD, and seven music videos.

History

Formation

The band emerged from the previous band Scum, founded in 1988 by Paul "Themgoroth" Mäkitalo (Dark Funeral) on vocals, Olavi Mikkonen on guitar, Nico Mehra (aka Nico Kaukinen) on drums, Petri Tarvainen on bass and Vesa Meriläinen guitar, the band originally played grindcore based on "jagged riffs, dark atmospheres, untethered vitriol and copious amounts of mead".[1] Scum made no impression upon the burgeoning Stockholm metal scene, but then Johan Hegg replaced Mäkitalo: it was his "imposing stature [and] [Thor]-like growl" that were beginning to shape the image and the sound of the band which now started to incorporate Viking-related themes.[1]

Early recordings

After a 1991 demo (credited to Scum), the band were joined by Hegg (vocals), Anders Hansson (guitar) and Ted Lundström (bass). The band then changed their name to Amon Amarth in 1992 and recorded their first demo Thor Arise (1993). Raw and uneven in sound and execution, it was never officially released due to low quality standards,[1][2] but the band caught the attention of extreme metal fans with its own "infectious brand of epic-sounding brutality and unadorned conviction".[1] In 1994 another demo entitled The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter was recorded; this time 1,000 copies were indeed issued.

In 1996, they signed with Pulverised Records, on which they released their first MCD, Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds, which sold 6000 copies.[3]

Signed with Metal Blade

They then signed with Metal Blade Records which released the debut album Once Sent from the Golden Hall. Described as "a compelling fusion of buzzsaw riff work, melodic harmonies and soul-crushing rhythms punctuated by Hegg’s callous black/death roar and accounts of Norse battles and treachery" it made sure Amon Amarth's popularity rose internationally.[1] According to Allmusic, the song that bore the group's namesake was the most memorable, containing "the chaotic noises of battle, the screams of the dying, and much sword-clashing to boot."[4] Since then they have done multiple Canada and US tours, festival appearances, seven music videos, and appearances in over 100 metal magazines.[3]

In June 1998, as the band was about to commence a tour alongside Deicide, Six Feet Under and Brutal Truth, guitarist Anders Hansson left and was replaced by Johan Soderberg. After the tour Martin Lopez quit to join Opeth[4] and Fredrik Andersson (ex-A Canorous Quintet) came in. With him in Spring 1999 the band recorded and released their second full-length, The Avenger. The release was supported by the X-Mas Massacre Festivals Tour with Morbid Angel headlining.[3]

The Crusher, released in 2001, was considered[according to whom?] to be their most aggressive album. In support of it the band went on tour with Marduk and Vader, taking part in No Mercy Festival. Their first American tour in autumn 2001 though had to be cancelled (due to the 11 September attack) and was held later, in January 2002, without Marduk, Amon Amarth headlining. In April 2002 the band toured Europe with Vomitory and in August performed at Wacken Open Air before 12.000 metal fans. In Berno Studio in Malmo Versus The World was recorded and came out, The Viking Edition comprising a bonus CD which included demos Thor Arise and Arrival Of The Fimbul Winter. Touring continued up until Spring 2004 when the band started working on Fate of Norns album which was released on 6 September 2004.[3] The follow-up, With Oden on Our Side (2006), has shown (according to AllMusic) that "Amon Amarth continue to be champions of the worldwide death metal tournament"[5] and rose to number 26 in the US Top Independent album charts.[6] The album's material though was not included in the DVD Wrath Of The Norsemen (the song of the same title would be found in the 2011 album)[7] which was released in May 2006, having turned gold in US (platinum - in Canada) ever since.[8]

In early January 2008, their first tour of Australia and New Zealand took place, supporting Dimmu Borgir, after finishing a US and Canadian tour with Sonic Syndicate and Himsa.[citation needed]

Renewed contract with Metal Blade

Amon Amarth extended their record deal with Metal Blade Records for three more albums.[9] After extending their record deal, the band released Twilight of the Thunder God, which featured guest appearances by Lars Göran Petrov of Entombed, Roope Latvala of Children of Bodom, and the cello metal band Apocalyptica. Accompanying the release of the album was an eight-page comic strip based on Norse mythology which was released by magazines in Europe. Twilight of the Thunder God which is considered their breakthrough album,[10] reached number 50 in the US,[6] number 6 in Germany, number 10 in Finland, number 11 in Sweden, number 14 in Austria, number 21 in Switzerland. It ended up at the number 7 position in Revolver Magazine’s Top 20 Albums that year.[3]

Amon Amarth embarked on a North American headlining tour in October 2008, with support from Ensiferum, Belphegor, and The Absence.[11] In 2009 the band returned to the States for another successful series of dates with Goatwhore, Skeletonwitch and Lazarus AD and later in 2010 with Holy Grail and Eluveitie. In between, Amon Amarth were named "Best Breakthrough Act" at Metal Hammer's prestigious Golden Gods Awards.[3] The band also supported Slayer in their Unholy Alliance Chapter III European tour. Amon Amarth played their first show in India, headlining the Deccan Rock Festival in Bangalore on 5 December 2009.[12]

On 30 November 2010, Amon Amarth confirmed their next album entitled Surtur Rising would be released in Spring 2011.[13] The drums have been recorded at Park Studios, while bass and guitars have been recorded at Fascination Street Studios.[14] According to the band's website, a release date has been set for 29 March in the U.S. They will also be embarking on a 4 month world tour with Children Of Bodom and Ensiferum, among others in March - June 2011.

On 27 January 2011, Metal Blade Records released the new album's first single, titled "War of the Gods", on YouTube. On 29 March 2011, Surtur Rising was released in North America.[citation needed]

They performed at Wacken Open Air in 2012,[15] Hellfest 2013, Download Festival 2013, Sweden Rock Festival and Mayhem Festival 2013.

On April 12, 2013, the name of a forthcoming ninth studio album was revealed as Deceiver of the Gods, and the band explained that the album cover depicts Ragnarök the last battle between the Æsir gods and Loki, accompanied by the army of the dead.[16]

Genres

Johan Hegg, frontman of Amon Amarth performing 21 July 2009

The band bases most of their song lyrics on Norse mythology, the Viking Age, and the pre-Christian world. This mythology is an element that emerged in the early 1990s as an ideological off-shoot of black metal in a genre known as Viking metal, made popular by such bands as Bathory and Enslaved. The band, however, does not classify itself as a Viking metal band.[17]

When asked to comment on the band's genre, vocalist Johan Hegg remarked:

We play death metal. We write about Vikings so, therefore, some refer us to Viking metal, but I have no idea what that is. I can't imagine the Vikings were into metal at all except on the swords and stuff. And musically, I guess they only played these strange lip instruments and some bongos or whatever.

— The Metal Web's interview with Johan Hegg

Hegg spoke of the band's unwillingness to be labeled and insisted that they've never called themselves Viking metal. "In our mind [this term is] very much associated with bands that come out of Norway who are playing a very black metal oriented music and that's not what we play. Sure, we have the same inspirations when it comes to the lyrical themes but musically we're a completely different kind of metal so it's tricky," Hegg added.[3]

Hegg has also addressed the band's relationship to the pagan metal phenomenon and their choice of subject matter:

We don't really see ourselves as one of those bands doing pagan folklore music. The reason we took the Viking theme and mythology theme as a lyrical theme for the band was, perhaps, more accidental from the start. When we wrote the first song with Viking lyrics, we felt it was a topic that suited the music that we wanted to write really well...It was something different, as well, from a lot of other bands. In Sweden, I think only Bathory and Unleashed had done anything like it. For us, it was to do something different, to stand out a little bit, to use those lyrics.

— The Norse Mythology Blog's interview with Johan Hegg

Discography

Main article: Amon Amarth discography

Members

Timeline

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "Biography at amonamarth.com". Archived from the original on 2011-04-24. Retrieved 2007-02-27.
  2. ^ Ankeny, Jason. Amon Amarth biography at AllMusic
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Amon Amarth Biography". Archived from the original on 17 October 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b Jason Ankeny. "Once Sent from the Golden Hall". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 12 December 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-01. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Prato, Greg. With Oden on Our Side album review. - Allmusic.
  6. ^ a b "Amon Amarth Charts & Awards". www.allmusic.com. Archived from the original on 12 December 2010. Retrieved 2011-01-01. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "With Oden on Our Side review". www.lordsofmetal.nl. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  8. ^ Metal Blade Records video. - Yohan Hegg speaking of the Surtur Rising concept.
  9. ^ Amon Amarth Extend Deal With Metal Blade Records Feb 10 2008
  10. ^ Phil Freeman. "Surtur Rising album review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
  11. ^ Amon Amarth - Tentative N. American Tour Routing: News @ metalstorm.ee
  12. ^ Amon Amarth Headline Deccan Rock 09.
  13. ^ "Amon Amarth: Title, Release Date Of Forthcoming Album". Metal CallOut. Archived from the original on 27 December 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-01. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Amon Amarth Working On New Full-Length Album metalunderground.com. 2010-11-15. Retrieved on 2010-12-02.
  15. ^ Wacken Open Air 2012 Billing
  16. ^ "Amon Amarth- 'Deceiver of the Gods' Album Cover". "http://www.reddit.com". April 12, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  17. ^ Interview with Johan Hegg Nov 19 2008

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Amon_Amarth&oldid=584920128"