I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: May 14, 2026] Amon Amarth

This was my fourth time seeing Amon Amarth.  I didn’t really need to see them again, which is why I didn’t want to pay full price for these tickets.  But when they went on sale, I happily grabbed a pair for my son and I.

They hadn’t put any new music out since 2023 (except for one single), so I didn’t expect there to be much difference between this show and the last time we saw them.  But I have to say, they really do mix up their shows from tour to tour.  Yes, there are some songs that I have seen at every show, but there were 9 songs (out of 15) that I hadn’t seen them play before.

We were really close to the stage (just outside of the Pit, which I did think might be fun to join in on) and could easily see singer Johann Hegg (who had a horn of mead (I assume) on his belt and a swagger in his walk) smile and really seem to enjoy himself and the fans.

For this tour they had a video screen set up behind them. They also had the giant inflatable Viking statues (I was so surprised that they were inflatable the first time I saw them, they were quite impressive (but what else could they be?)).  They opened with Raven’s Flight and I really enjoy the way the band walks around acknowledging the audience and making everyone feel a part of the show.

Up next was Shield Wall, a song I’ve seen at every show and which somehow I forgot meant that there would be two guys on either side of the stage waving giant shields around.  The first time I saw them I was really impressed by their stagecraft–even as an opening band.  And it continues with each tour.

Then there were a whole slew of (to me) new songs.  I don’t really know their recorded music very well, so it’s all new to me, but this block featured songs from 2008, three songs from 2006’s With Oden on Our Side (their third album and one I haven’t heard them play anything from before) and even one song from their debut album.  This was such a fascinating mix of songs to me since on their 2024 headline tour they played one song from 2004 and every thing was 2008 or newer.  There were some really cool visuals for these songs, too. (Okay they had a couple of albums before that but I feel like they don’t really count).

During Hermod’s Ride to Hel, a woman’s face (half skull makeup) was projected on the screen and she sang along with Johann.  I enjoyed that he walked over to a specific part of the stage and it looked like she was singing directly to him and he to her.

Then came Put Your Back Into the Oar and before the song even fully started, nearly the whole floor was sitting down and rowing.  I love it.

They played two more older songs that I didn’t know We Rule the Waves (We are…. we are Vikings… We rule the waves) and One Thousand Burning Arrows.  For this song, the shield guys came out and pointed arrows at the crowd and at each other.  I did wonder what would happen if they let go.  But I was also delighted that these two guys get to be on stage for so many different things.  The second time we saw them, they actually had a swordfight on stage!  Maybe they didn’t do that tonight since there had already been one with Castle Rat.

They played War of the Gods and then Hegg raised his horn (for Raise Your Horns) and toasted to us all as we raised our own horns back.  Again, it was really fun to see just how much he was enjoying us. He’d never been to Bethlehem before and acknowledged that most people were probably from Philly (not sure how well the locals took that), but he was very impressed with the crowd wherever they were from.  During this song the shield guys were waving the large Amon Amarth logo flags–they seem to do it somewhere in every show and it made sense here during the super catchy chorus.

I didn’t know if they would get an encore since they were not headlining, but they did.  The most fascinating thing about that was that after the encores tonight, they played only one fewer song than they did when they headlined in 2024.

Their first encore song was Saxons & vikings, a song I didn’t know (it’s from 2022).  Suddenly on the video screen was Biff Byford from Saxon.  It made so much sense and I love that he sang along with the band for this song.  In the video, I couldn’t tell if they were fighting or on the same side.  And who would win?  Like with the earlier video, Biff and Johann faced each other on screen and sang at each other.  Biff sounded great and it was fun telling my son about the legendary Saxon.  I read somewhere that they don’t always play this song, so I’m thrilled that we got to see it.

And then Hegg came out with a gigantic hammer.  He held it aloft as “Twilight of the Thunder God” began.  Smoke filled the room and a giant dragon appeared on stage.  As the song ended Hegg lifted his giant war hammer and struck the dragon about the face.  Sure, it was inflatable and it’s funny to watch the hammer bounce off, but man is it fun to get into the spectacle.

Silly? Absolutely.  Fantastic?  Definitely.

When the show ended he waved to everyone. It was so fun seeing him on the big screen smiling and giving horns to all the fans.   As with every time I see them, I like to imagine Hegg going to the Waffle House after the show and growling “Pecan waffle and hash browns Smuuuuuuuthherrrrred and cuuuuuuuuvered.”

It was my fourth show and it might have been my favorite one yet.  I certainly do not need to see them again, but I probably will.

§ = single (2025)
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)
Ω = With Oden on Our Side (2006)
§ = Fate of Norns (2004)
♦ = Versus the World (2002)

The Crusher (2001)
The Avenger (1999)
Once Sent from the Golden Hall (1998)