If there’s a testament to the old maxim of doing one thing and doing it very well in today’s metal world, look no further than Amon Amarth. After briefly exploring more classic metal tropes in their early demos, the group made a conscious decision to focus their lyrical content on Norse mythology and history, which set them apart in early 1990s Sweden the melodic death metal was expanding rapidly to global recognition. Though record executives warned the band about the potential pitfalls of pigeon-holing themselves in such a way, Amon Amarth was steadfast in their belief in their overall vision for the group’s sound and aesthetic.
That belief was challenged early in their careers when faced with difficulty breaking through to mainstream success after the group’s first three releases on Metal Blade Records. When entering the studio for Versus the World, the members of Amon Amarth were prepared for it to be their last record if it didn’t reach the level of success they deemed necessary to make music their full-time careers. In fact, the band approached the album as if it would be their last and the result was a pivotal release in their discography, as the dark, angry, melancholic, and classic album from 2002 ended up moving the group onto the upwards trajectory they’ve been climbing since that record.
Fast forward to the current day and Amon Amarth have evolved into a worldwide sensation, headlining shows and festivals around the world and releasing albums to critical acclaim over the last quarter of a decade. Incorporating these Norse and Viking themes into their live show at the suggesting of their label, which also began shortly after Versus the World, has gone a long way in making Amon Amarth’s live show a must-see event. This evolution continues on the group’s 13th studio album, The Allfather Awakens, which will be released on October 2nd through Metal Blade. Ahead of its release, I had a chance to catch up with guitarist Johan Söderberg, who joined the group shortly after the release of 1998’s Once Sent From the Golden Hall, about the new record and a number of other topics, including:
- the different writing process the group used for The Allfather Awakens, treating each song on the record as if it was a single, and the first-ever all acoustic offering from the band.
- how he gave frontman Johan Hegg the lyrical idea for “Eight Legs of Thunder,” the Wild West-themed video for the song, the nod to Breaking Bad contained within it, and a hilarious comment on the band’s official page.
- whether or not the band intentionally writes songs they know will work in the live setting, the evolution of rowing in the crowd, and the importance of the band’s stage show to their success.
- playing Jones Beach Theater with Pantera shortly after Ozzy Osbourne’s death, Amon Amarth’s upcoming all-Swedish tour with Soilwork and Orbit Culture, how the group has never toured with Soilwork before, and the band’s proximity to the Gothenburg scene in their early days.
- the crucial role Michael Trengert and Metal Blade Records played in the band’s rise to popularity, the importance of Versus the World as a turning point in the group’s history, how he rates drinking beers in a lake in the United States, and reflections on Amon Amarth’s accomplishments to date and how they seem to continue to improve on every record.
You can watch the entire interview HERE:
Johan was a pleasure to speak with and very gracious with his time. It’s clear that he is grateful for the opportunities available to him playing with Amon Amarth, especially when discussing that make-or-break moment when the band considered abandoning the band once and for all when writing their fourth album. Though difficulties and doubts will creep in to any young band’s thoughts without immediate success, Amon Amarth’s unwavering belief in their vision of what they wanted the band to be had led them to where they are today: when you think Vikings and metal, you think Amon Amarth. The Allfather Awakens further cements their ascent at this later stage of their career, and ensures that they sit upon the Hliðskjálf as the undisputed rulers of the waves.
To preorder Amon Amarth's thirteenth studio album, The Allfather Awakens, visit Metal Blade Records' website below:
To catch the band live in England and mainland Europe this fall, check out ticket information for their all-Swedish tour with Orbit Culture and Soilwork at the link here.
