I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: August 25, 2023] Amon Amarth

I saw Amon Amarth open for Slayer back in 2019.  At that time I didn’t know them, but I really enjoyed their show–they were melodic and the singer was kind of growly, but he was understandable, and that makes a big difference.

I didn’t realize it had been so long since I had seen them and I kind of expected the same basic show.  But since 2019, they have put out a new album (and have a brand new single out as well).

So while they did play six of the same songs as last time, the order was different and their stage show was HUGE!

Last time they had a ship on stage that they climbed all over.  This time, there was a giant mask on stage and two massive statues of warriors on either side of the stage.

The band sounded huge.  I have now seen them twice in the same venue and would like to see them with a better sound system.

They opened with two songs from Berserker.  The new to me Raven’s Flight and then Shield Wall, which they played last time.  But this time, two guys in “armor” came out on stage and waved their shields around.  One had an ax (our side) and one had a sword.  And the shields were made of wood.  They waved their weapons around as the song played, and at the end of the song I said to one of our group “I thought they were going to fight!”

Up next came the new single “Heidrun” which is about a goat

Hail the dead and the goat that gives us mead
On the roof she’s gnawing Lärad’s leaves
Fills the vat with a drink that is so sweet
Worthy of fame
Heidrun is her name

It was full of catchy riffs.  And, as I said last time, if this band had been around when I was in high school I would have been a massive fan (and I am becoming a massive fan now having seen them twice.  This was the only song they played from their most recent album.

Introducing the next song, singer Johan Hegg (who had a horn of mead (I assume) on his belt and a swagger in his walk) told us that they were bringing out The Deceiver of the Gods.  And out came a character in leathers with giant horns and green eyes.  He stalked the stage and was eventually kicked off of the stage by Hegg himself.  It was fantastic.

Before the show we had all talked about the new song “Put Your Back Into the Oar” and how in a video or two, the crowd in the pit sat on the floor and rowed along with the band.  We so hoped that would happen for us.  Well, the pit didn’t get on the floor, but he encouraged everyone else to sit down and take positions so that we could row. And row we did.  It was a ton of fun.

Up next was The Way of Vikings.  They played this song last time too, but this time, the two guys from earlier came back out and actually had a 45 second battle during the instrumental part of the song.  They clanged swords and whacked shields and after 45 seconds, the guy with the sword killed the guy with the axe (whose shield was really beaten up).  Then the victor helped the loser up and the lyrics explained

Whirling dust in morning air
Two warriors in the ring
With the strength of two great bears
They make their weapons sing
Sparks fly high when steel meets steel
And no one can believe
That these two men are best friends
Not enemies

Yeah, it’s all silly.  But it was awesome.

After Guardians of Asgaard, Hegg raised his horn and quaffed mightily.  He encouraged us all to raise our horns for the song of the same name.

The lights went down and when they came back up, there was lightning and thunder on stage as a giant dragon had now replaced the giant statues.  As “Twilight of the Thunder God” began the crowd went wild as smoke filled the arena and the giant dragon head rocked back and forth.   As the song ended Hegg lifted his giant war hammer and struck the dragon about the face.

Again, goofy but awesome.

By the end of the set we were all hooked on the band.

I know for sure that I want to see them again, next time as a headlining band–although I wonder how much of this kind of stuff they can do in a smaller venue.  But wherever I see them next, it will have to be in the pit, and not off to the side.

The Pit for this show proved to be wholly priced out of my comfort range.  Tickets started at nearly $200 (for some VIP nonsense) and they never dropped down for less in the re-sales.  Alas.

But I can’t imagine how much fun they have when everyone is there for them.

 

	2023 (open for Ghost) (Freedom Mortgage Pavilion)	20019 (open for Slayer) <– [same place](BB&T Pavilion)
	Raven’s Flight ß	The Pursuit of Vikings §
	Shield Wall ß	Deceiver of the Gods ⊗
	Heidrun ¥	As Loke Falls ⊗
	Deceiver of the Gods ⊗	Crack the Sky ß
	Put Your Back into the Oar [new]	The Way of Vikings ℑ
	The Way of Vikings ℑ	First Kill ℑ
	Guardians of Asgaard ⇓	Twilight of the Thunder God ⇓
	Raise Your Horns ℑ	Raise Your Horns ℑ
	Twilight of the Thunder God ⇓	Shield Wall ß
		Guardians of Asgaard ⇓

¥ = The Great Heathen Army (2022)
ß = Berserker (2019)
ℑ = Jomsviking (2016)
⊗ = Deceiver of the Gods (2013)
⇓ = Twilight of the Thunder God (2008)
§ = Fate of Norns (2004)

Surtur Rising (2011)
With Oden on Our Side (2006)
Versus the World (2002)
The Crusher (2001)
The Avenger (1999)
Once Sent from the Golden Hall (1998)