Amon Amarth- The Great Heathen Army
Amon Amarth – The Great Heathen Army
Metal Blade Records
Release Date: 05/08/2022
Running Time: 43:00
Review by Rory Bentley
8/10
Contrary to the opinion of dorks on Twitter, Amon Amarth don’t do bad albums. There might be less essential additions to their catalogue when compared to classics like “Twilight of the Thunder God” and early acts of savagery like “The Crusher”, but they’re all united by a distinctive signature stomp and Johan Hegg’s uniquely catchy death growl. From their beginnings as a bruising Melodeath berzerker squad to the arena-filling force of Heavy Metal anthems of today, they’ve maintained a high watermark throughout their mead-drenched, battle-scarred career.
On 11th studio album “The Great Heathen Army”, Johan and the boys have made a concerted effort to pivot away slightly from the Trad Metal singalongs and strip things back to their Death Metal roots. Although this doesn’t tell the full story and there’s a few curveballs along the way, at least relatively speaking.
‘Get In the Ring’ certainly lives up to the raw Death Metal billing, with sludgy riffs turning bone to powder like Mjölnir being brought down with venomous might. Johan eschews the band’s more myth-centric lyricism for a more general level of threatening menace to people that like to flap their gums but can’t back it up when it’s time to throw hands. Although I have since discovered there is some historical context to the song, it is eclipsed by pure machismo, very much to its benefit! As those who have read my Corpsegrinder review will know, I’m very fond of burly men making death threats over a soundscape designed to concuss a Blue Whale.
The title track is next and, again, wastes no time charging into battle, anchored by an unsettling chromatic lead line as it tells the tale of England being ravaged by a gigantic Nordic army hellbent on vengeance and the desire to conquer. Frankly I’d welcome this fate all over again, ‘Blood Eagles for Boris’ has a nice ring to it. Politics aside though, this one looks like a setlist mainstay of the future.
So far so Melodeath. Until we get to ‘Heidrun’, which is absolutely bonkers. The jaunty NWOBHM melodies of the previous two albums return, we get a real deep-cut from Norse mythology and a guest vocal from a goat. In no way am I taking artistic licence here- I very much mean an actual fucking goat! It turns out Heidrun is a lovely nanny who sits on the roof of Valhalla gnawing at the magical leaves and secreeting the finest mead to be vociferously guzzled by parched warriors. From which orifice I remain unsure, but it’s quite the subject matter. By the time the call and response mantra of “Who’s the G.O.A.T.? Who’s the G.O.A.T.? Heidrun! Heidrun!” hit the speakers, all bets were off. This is one of the stupidest fucking songs I’ve ever heard. But I also snuck it onto the playlist at my wedding. Because I love it.
Things get back to more familiar footing with the serviceable slab of Death ‘Oden Owns You All,’ and the ode to PMA and getting shit done that is ‘Find A Way or Make One’, which feels like Hatebreed by way of Manowar in its subject and delivery. H2O for people that wear woad. ‘Dawn of Norsemen’ brings up the rear in this up-tempo trilogy before we get another curveball, this time minus farmyard animals but still featuring a G.O.A.T. of sorts.
Good old Biff Byford comes steaming in for the appropriately monikered ‘Saxons and Vikings’ which brings to life the tale of the two warring armies in spectacular fashion. Biff’s shrill Trad Metal wail contrasts perfectly with Johan’s guttural bellow as the two of them embark on an absurd duet that works way better than it has any right to. This is 2022’s ‘You Don’t Bring Me Flowers’ except everybody’s Neil Diamond and Neil’s gone mad and decapitated Barbara Streisand with an axe!
As the ‘Marth are wont to do, things close up with a more epic, dynamic track bolstered by acoustic guitars and a somber reflection on the travails of a warrior reaching the end, in the form of ‘The Serpent’s Trail’. It’s a trick they’ve done before, but there’s a comforting familiarity to the record’s conclusion that shows the band know their strengths and there is a vigour to the performance that belies the fact that this is a band approaching their third decade.
With a savage delivery, razor-sharp production job by Andy Sneap and a decent fistful of future setlist favourites, it’s hard to see most of the Jomsviking faithful walking away from this one disappointed. The band have a distinctive sound like no one else and they know the right times to vary up their core template of burly Melodeath. My head is giving this one an 8 but in terms of my own enjoyment it’s a straight 10! Skål!
‘Get In The Ring’ Official Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. Get In the Ring
02. The Great Heathen Army
03. Heidrun
04. Oden Owns You All
05. Find a Way or Make One
06. Dawn of Norsemen
07. Saxons and Vikings
08. Skagul Rides with Me
09. The Serpent’s Trail
LINE-UP:
Johan Hegg – Vocals
Olavi Mikkonen – Guitar
Johan Söderberg – Guitar
Ted Lundström – Bass
Jocke Wallgren – Drums
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Rory Bentley and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
