Released by Metal Blade Records on August 5th, 2022
Quick Background
Amon Amarth is a Swedish melodic death metal band formed in 1992. Their lyrics mostly deal with Viking mythology and history. Their first studio album, Once Sent from the Golden Hall, debuted in 1998. Five more studio releases followed, before the band saw its breakthrough with the 2008 album Twilight of the Thunder God. Which was actually my first album as well. Other than a few changes on the drums, the line up has been stable since 1998.
The Great Heathen Army
The Great Heathen Army is their twelfth studio album and features 9 songs in 43 minutes. It is one of their heavier albums. There are some dark and heavy songs that are really powerful and in-your-face. The songs are short and direct, with simpler structures and easy choruses, in that sense, there's less epicness and grandiosity than in some previous records.
"Get in the Ring" opens the album as a powerful song with a catchy bridge (that brings me back to the Twilight album), short guitar solo and cool guitar work. It was also released in advance of the album as a video single. The title track follows which starts with a groove metal guitar riff. But it is also a dark song as the verse starts. On the other hand it's the shortest song on the album and yet a lot of repetition, after a couple of listens I was a bit fed up already.
"Saxons and Vikings" is one of my favorites song songs the album. It deals with the same subject as the title track but it also brings the Saxons' perspective, and what's special about it is that they asked Saxon to be on the song Biff Byford is singing on this with Hegg, and then Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt doing the solo for the song. Biff wrote his own parts, and I think this worked very well. "Oden Owns You All" is another of my favorites, heavy ant yet catchy, some more guitars on the spotlight working to bring that epic feeling that is missing in most of the other songs. Another song that goes well with it is "Dawn of Norsemen". The second longest song on the album is a bit more adventurous featuring a acoustic guitar interlude followed by a very heavy bridge where Hegg sings it very low and somber. The interesting thing is that this interlude and bridge are in between verse 2 and chorus given the song a bit more progressive structure. "Find a Way or Make One" has a quite traditional metal vibe, there's even a very nice twin guitar riff, no wonder they made a fun video for it, it is a certain new live favorite. And it is catchy and uplifting. "Skagul Rides with Me" interesting guitar work and fun chorus that beings me back to the Versus The World era. "The Serpent's Trail" closes the album without adding much to it.
As expected we get a modern, clear and bright Andy Sneap production. The album artwork is quite unique for theses days, it brings us back to early Manowar or Kiss as we actually have a band picture on it, not something we see a lot these days.
The Picky Guy
The songs are short and really focused on the lyrics delivering. Which is not a problem in itself but it does create some issues for me. One is repetition and recycling of ideas. The second, it all becomes too simplistic. For example, there's a clear lack of guitar solos and even instrumental passages. It's all very economical. My least favorite song is "Heidrun" which departs from the overall album feel by being a more fun, sing along, happy metal song. Fun fact, it's probably the first song I ever hear about a goat.
Wrap Up Opinion
Amon Amarth. know what they are doing and they are playing a safe hand with The Great Heathen Army. An album written to allow for touring, simple songs designed to be played live. Memorable and easy choruses will get stuck in your head, good for the short term but it can be a problem as the album ages. Short songs with a couple of guitar solos only and to the point. The lyric content is as expected fun. Not at all a bad album, but I was expecting more from such seasoned and talented guys. In any case still a good album, not great, that will please many fans and allow us to hear some fun tracks live, hopefully as soon as possible.
Genre: Death Metal
Released by Metal Blade Records on August 5th, 2022
Rating System
99 - 100 Perfect
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad
wordcount = 759
94 - 98 Excellent
87 - 93 Great
82 - 86 Very Good
77 - 81 Good
66 - 76 Mixed
58 - 65 Bad
wordcount = 759
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