Band: Amon Amarth
Country of Origin: Sweden
Genre: Melodic Death metal
Type: Full Length
Format: CD Deluxe Edition
Length Approx.: 52:00 min.
Length Approx.: 52:00 min.
Release Date: 03-25-2016
Release Label: Metal Blade Records
IR Classification: Excellent (5 / 5)
Listen our review! (English)
Jomsviking can be defined as brutal and melodic with a beautiful concept
Amon Amarth began their journey twenty four years ago,
however I did found them four years later, when visiting my local store they
were playing their first EP "Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds" and I
was shocked, never before I was heard something like that, since that moment I
was fascinated for these vikings, record after record, they haven't let me down
at all, always with their unique formula has been able to craft and deliver a
state of ecstasies with their melodic and brutal sound, but
"Jomsviking" is not only that! For very first time in their career
Amon Amarth bring to us, a very strong and unforgettable conceptual album, here
Amon Amarth tells us a love story about a young man who finds his beloved woman
married to another, arousing his anger and commit murder, he is being forced to
flee in the midwinter, but swore to return to win her back and take revenge and
that is just the beginning of a beautiful story where every track has its own
personality and complement each other, taking you through disgrace, adventures,
tragedies to conclude with a sad end, lyrically this the opus master of Amon
Amarth.
Certainly something was bugging us, it was the
curiosity to know who will replace their long time drummer Fredrik Andersson
and finally got unveiled within three days before the official release of
"Jomsviking" there is not better choice than Jocke Wallgren better
known for his work at (Valkyrja, October Tide) at least he is the right man, to
cover their upcoming US tour which kick off next April seventh in San Diego,
California.
"Jomsviking" open with "First Kill" this
track set everything in this opus master with sharp riff, Johan Hegg add his
powerful and raw growls, the blasting and accurate drums by Tobias Gustafsson
(Vomitory) are impressive, yes! you read right he was the drummer session, who
helped Amon Amarth to record this album, "Wanderer" brings the
grooving guitars of Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg with exceptional rhythms
and solos, "On a Sea of Blood" is a full attack, relentless and
furious the track have enough power to light up the moshpit, "One Against
All" is a clear statement of hate and men resolution, undoubtedly the
galloping riff owns this cut, while "Rise Your Horns" gives a breathe
with its mid pace riffing and infectious vocals, only to let "The Way of
Vikings" arrives with an epic feeling the story here tells us the tragedy
of two men, who are best friends determined to fight, "At Dawn's First
Light" Hegg dialog opens threatening and delves in easily recognizable
riffage alike Maiden's style, even the bass line very alike to Harris,
"One Thousand Burning Arrows" structured with heavy and dense riffage
over a rhythmic section of bass and drums that collide and contrast with
beautiful guitars elevated with cutthroat vocals, infuse enough energy to take
the last breath before heading to the end, "Vengeance Is My Name" is
faster than the previous track which is more oriented to their roots, "A
Dream That Cannot Be" subtly welcomes the beginning of the epilogue
featuring Doro Pesch, as guest the guitar work is intense and allows the
dueling vocals of Hegg and Pesch to elaborate an unthinkable end for the two
lovers of the story, "Back on Northern Shores" the last chapter with
a mid pace riff and a melody in the background, Hegg snarls to tell the epic
finale with the proper dose of
aggression and imagination, drenched in sadness and a fateful but grandiose
end.
Amon Amarth's tenth studio album is the living proof that a
steady line-up with a common core are capable to reach anywhere, without
divagate in nowhere but always evolving their sound to the next level,
"Jomsviking" can be defined as brutal and melodic with a beautiful
concept, the band was able to create a fantastic story that inspire the listener
to devour the album from the beginning to the end, this album becomes to be
probably one of the best metal albums of the year and an iconic conceptual
album for the years to come.
Stay
True… Stay Metal… Stay Brutal...
Track List:
01. First Kill
02. Wanderer
03. On a Sea of Blood
04. One Against All
05. Rise Your Horns
06. The Way of Vikings
07. At Dawn's First Light
08. One Thousand Burning Arrows
09. Vengeance is My Name10. A Dream That Cannot Be
11. Back on Northern Shores
No comments:
Post a Comment