Author: Sebastijan Videc
Artist: Amon Amarth
Label: Metal Blade Records
Release: 2013
Runtime: 47:52
Rating: 3/5
The terror of the early Middle Ages, the Vikings still set imaginations on fire all over the world, and it’s no surprise their adventures keep turning up in metal. Amon Amarth are considered the most popular Viking metal band around, with plenty of fans here in Slovenia too. While dipping their toes in Lake Bohinj, those fans probably picture themselves on a Norwegian fjord getting ready to set sail, pouring beer from drinking horns for courage and, let’s be honest, just waiting for the next gig.
At the start of summer they set off on a new plundering raid with their latest effort, their ninth already, called Deceiver of the Gods. The Deceiver of the Gods brings us ten new tracks, most of which deal with stories about the wicked and cunning god Loki (the one whose mask in the movie of the same name with Jim Carrey caused no small amount of trouble), who in the Norse sagas got on the nerves of plenty of gods – and among other things caused the death of the son of Odin, the chief god; you can imagine he wasn’t exactly well liked among the other gods. The crafty god also greets us from the cover, where he’s fending off an attack from Thor.
The album opens with the title track, which lifts the listener up with mighty riffs and harmonies and promises some proper Viking devastation. As Loke Falls only ramps up the assault on your eardrums. Unfortunately, from there it turns into a wasteland of already-heard, I’d almost say generic, Amon Amarth melodic death metal. Not that the music is bad, far from it. But sadly the band is afraid to step out of its mold and everything starts to sound very, very similar. Hegg’s vocals stay the same, and more than once I had the feeling that I already knew the lyrics and vocal lines from older albums. The guitar tone doesn’t convince either, coming across as bland this time, almost over-produced. The slight drowsiness in the middle of the album is broken up by Blood Eagle, with the fastest tempo on the whole record and probably the cruelest lyrics, since they describe the bloody torture the Norsemen used on their enemies.
Amon Amarth also invited former Candlemass singer Messiah Marcolin into the studio, and on the track called Hel his clean vocals in the choruses nicely complement Hegg’s roar. The song really stands out on the album, and not just because of the chorus duet, but also thanks to the female backing vocals and a slightly oriental melody I’d never heard from this band before. To be honest, Hel reminds me more of Therion than Amon Amarth. The album closes with the epic Warriors of the North – the track I personally waited for through the entire record – a perfect blend of melodic guitars, a marching hard rhythm and harmonies that, together with the growling, lead you into battle without fear or hesitation.
And that’s exactly where the problem with this record lies. After three quarters of an hour of listening, we only reach the first, and sadly also the last, track that has all the hallmarks and strengths that made Amon Amarth so popular. Sadly, the last two records suffer from exactly this lack of epic Viking anthems. In all honesty, the guys have enough mileage behind them that they won’t be putting out a truly rotten record anytime soon, since they play the proven formula of melodic death metal with Viking lyrics, which on top of that makes for a great atmosphere live. If you’re a music connoisseur, I recommend skipping this one, but if you like wolves, Norsemen and their gods, then definitely treat yourself to it.
Lineup
Johan Hegg – vocals
Johan Söderberg – guitar
Olavi Mikkonen – guitar
Ted Lundström – bass
Fredrik Andersson – drums
Production
Andy Sneap
Tracklist
1. Deceiver of the Gods
2. As Loke Falls
3. Father of the Wolf
4. Shape Shifter
5. Under Siege
6. Blood Eagle
7. We Shall Destroy
8. Hel
9. Coming of the Tide
10. Warriors of the North
