"Twilight of the thunder god" LP by Amon Amarth

by Mats Sundgren (21.07.2008) The excitement and expectations around the album are incredible... Amon Amarth certainly is the band of the hour and on the verge of its breakthrough to the best of ‘em - the quintet must have been under considerable pressure. Is it possible to top a perfect album like "With oden on our side"? You wouldn’t believe it - but the Swedes yet again deliver and have recorded another gem! Although the Vikings don’t play it safe - and have done the most versatile album of their career. Songs like "A silence loud and clear" (working title!) and the title track are among the fastest the band has ever written. But even in these ones, they aren’t shy of melodious choruses - you have to say that all choruses are extremely intense and give you the goose-bumps, anyway - hats off to singer Johan Hegg and his fantastic performance, his best so far! To the surprise of all, Amon Amarth - who always seemed to be a private function - have some guests on the album. On "Guardians of asgaard", there’s a great duet between Johan and Entombed vocalist LG Petrov, Roope Latvala of Children Of Bodom adds zest to the title song with a neat and slick solo, and on "Live for the kill", the boys indeed do collaborate with Apocalyptica - and it just sounds terrific! Don’t panic - Amon Amarth haven’t become sissies: "Twilight of the thunder god" is 100% Metal, but much more versatile, with evergreen melodies and exciting from start to finish. The last dance on this one: "Embrace of the endless ocean", the most epic, tragical and presumably also most beautiful song Amon Amarth have ever composed. A perfect ending for a truly perfect album!