I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: May 9, 2024] Amon Amarth

My son and his friends saw Amon Amarth open for Ghost last summer.  So when they announced a headlining tour, I grabbed us tickets.

I thought it would be really fun to see them headline (although their set was actually smaller than when they opened, probably because it was a much smaller venue).  I also thought it would be really cool to see them in a smaller venue and to be on the floor.

The Cannibal Corpse crowd really took up the whole pit, but when they ended a lot of people left, I guess.  The floor opened up and we headed down there.  The crew went to the front right and I stayed in the center back assuming it would be far enough from the pit but still a great view.

Well, it turns out that at an Aman Amarth show, the pit starts pretty far back and I was pretty much right in the middle of it (cane and all).  I quickly made my way out of that area but was pushed and shoved through most of the show as people tried to get into the pit.

There was a lengthy intro (after a few verses of Iron Maiden’s “Run to the Hills”) while their logo swirled around on stage.  And then the curtain dropped and there was the giant Viking helmet drum set.  That’s when the pit started and I didn’t focus on much of the first song as I tried to clamber over people to safety.

It was pretty great seeing them from this close. You could see singer Johann Hegg ((who had a horn of mead (I assume) on his belt and a swagger in his walk) smile as he welcomed the crowd.  And the songs were so much more visceral with the crowd pulsing around us.

One of the best things about an Amon Amarth show is the theatrics.  The stage set was a little smaller (no giant inflatable vikings), but the participation on stage was full-on.

I didn’t get to fully appreciate the first song as I was getting bumped around. But for Tattered Banners and Bloody Flags two gues stood on either side of the stage and waved giant flags.

I really enjoyed the way the various band members walked around the stage visiting all the people in the front and acknowledging everyone.  Hegg encouraged everyone to do a circle pit (and everyone obliged.

Hegg introduced Loke, The Deceiver of the Gods.  Out came a character in leathers with giant horns and green eyes.  He stalked the stage and caused some mischief before eventually getting literally kicked off of the stage by Hegg himself.  It was fantastic.  This was followed by As Loke Falls.

Last time, we loved Put Your Back Into the Oar, although the pit didn’t get on the floor, we all sat down and rowed along with him.  Well, the audience didn’t have to be told and as soon as the song started half of the pit sat on the floor and started rowing.  It was fun and hilarious.  By the time it got to the point that he actually asked people to row I think the whole room was doing it.

Up next was The Way of Vikings.  Two guys came out and had a sword vs. axe battle actually clanging swords and whacking shields.  It was awesome.

One of my favorite songs of theirs is a fairly new single called Heidrun–super catchy and fun to sing along.

All in all they played five songs that I hadn’t heard live before (out of fifteen total) and all through the set, Johann Hegg seemed to be having a blast.  I know that’s part of the performer’s deal, but he genuinely seemed to be enjoying himself and complimented us on our noise levels.

For Shield Wall, the two guys in armor came back out on stage and waved their shields around.  One had an ax (our side) and one had a sword.  It’s anticlimactic somewhat to have them fight first and then bash just hit their own shields later, but it’s s still a great scene.

They saved Raise Your Horns for the set ender.  Everyone raised their metal finger salute and this time, Hegg didn’t drink from the horn on his belt, he quaffed from a horn that was twice or three times as big.  Who knows what he’s actually drinking (hopefully something to soothe his throat).  The rest of the band drank from their horns and we all saluted to a super catchy song.

The band left for an encore break.  The lights went down and when they came back up, there was lightning and thunder on stage as a giant dragon took up the right side of the stage.  They did this last time, but this time I could see that there was a tail on the left side too (attention to detail).

Hegg came out with a gigantic hammer.  He held it aloft as “Twilight of the Thunder God” began and 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.

Silly? Absolutely.

Fantastic?  Definitely.

SETLISTS

2024 (headlining) Wellmont Theater	2023 (open for Ghost) (Freedom Mortgage Pavilion)	20019 (open for Slayer) <– [same place](BB&T Pavilion)
The Pursuit of Vikings §	Raven’s Flight ß	The Pursuit of Vikings §
Tattered Banners and Bloody Flags ⇓	Shield Wall ß	Deceiver of the Gods ⊗
Guardians of Asgaard ⇓	Heidrun ¥	As Loke Falls ⊗
Raven’s Flight ß	Deceiver of the Gods ⊗	Crack the Sky ß
Blood Eagle ⊗	Put Your Back into the Oar ψ	The Way of Vikings ℑ
Deceiver of the Gods ⊗	The Way of Vikings ℑ	First Kill ℑ
As Loke Falls ⊗	Guardians of Asgaard ⇓	Twilight of the Thunder God ⇓
Find a Way or Make One ¥	Raise Your Horns ℑ	Raise Your Horns ℑ
Put Your Back into the Oar ψ	Twilight of the Thunder God ⇓	Shield Wall ß
The Way of Vikings ℑ		Guardians of Asgaard ⇓
Heidrun ¥
War of the Gods ‰
Shield Wall ß
Raise Your Horns ℑ
encore
Twilight of the Thunder God ⇓

ψ = Heidrun EP (2023)
¥ = The Great Heathen Army (2022)
ß = Berserker (2019)
ℑ = Jomsviking (2016)
⊗ = Deceiver of the Gods (2013)
‰ = Surtur Rising (2011)
⇓ = Twilight of the Thunder God (2008)
§ = Fate of Norns (2004)

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