Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thunder God

Amon Amarth. Twilight of the Thunder God. 2008. 4.5 stars.

This is an exceptional viking metal album that features memorable melodies, fluid percussion and stellar production. While the lyrical concepts of this album are largely concerned with epic battles and mythical conquests (as the cover art demonstrates), it is not nearly as over the top as other viking metal albums released this year (Equilibrium for example). The furious riffs alone make this a thoroughly satisfying metal album that maintains both a sense of grandeur and raw aggression.

The album is well-balanced and consistently heavy, moving along at a rapid pace through fiery guitar solos and brutal bass lines. Amon Amarth have managed to be both musically tight and genuinely epic in their compositions, as each mammoth track flows steadily into the next, making this an addictive listen that begs repeating. The vocals, while not going far beyond the traditional death metal fare, work terrifically with the music and provides a bestial undercurrent for the soaring melodies.

Overall, Twilight of the Thunder God is a solid release that has hardly any weak points. Even though the band is reluctant to deviate from their established sound, they do indulge in the odd cello accompaniment towards the finale, embellishing on the climatic atmosphere that runs throughout. Despite its aggressively dense sound, Amon Amarth are still surprisingly accessible, crafting an album that is both entertaining and crushingly heavy. This is easily one of the finest metal albums of the year.

Twilight of the Thunder God

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