The Melodic Death Metal Vikings that are AMON AMARTH are back with their seventh studio album entitled 'Twilight of The Thunder God'. With AMON AMARTH you usually know what you will get, and this album is full of their usual traits and with some evolution thrown in. The title track kicks things off and you can just tell this is AMON AMARTH from the style of it. 'Twilight of The Thunder God' is one of the best tracks on this album and one of the best opening tracks I have heard on an album for a while. Packed full of riffs and a cracking solo, this sets the scene for the rest of the album to follow.

'Free Wil Sacrifice' follows up, and although slower in pace, it loses nothing in heaviness with parts of it going just straight death metal in style. 'Guardians of Asgaard' sounds like a viking war anthem which they would march to in years gone by, with 'Where Is Your God?' opting for a more straight up death metal approach from start to finish. Johan Hegg's vocals are as impressive as ever with even more rawness which gives an awesome effect to the tracks. Perhaps it's his crisps and whiskey method that has given this sound?! Whatever it is, it sounds awesome.

Although the only down side of the album is probably the fall in production since 'With Oden On Our Side', the dual guitar attack of Mikkonen and Soderberg is as impressive as ever, whilst finally Lundstrom's  bass is louder than ever which makes a nice change. The drums of Fredrik Andersson, although audible do seem to take a back seat resulting in a thin sounding production.

The album continues solidly with 'Varyags of Miklagaard' and 'Tattered Banners and Bloody Flags' which I thought at first listen were the same song combined given the similarity of the riffs used, but you can tell the difference after a few listens. The former being the better of the two tracks, but both are classic AMON AMARTH full of melody, guitar harmonies and riffs, which if they dont get your fists pumping into the air and head at leats nodding to the rhythm, there's something seriously wrong with you!

Another standout track on the album has to be the anthemic 'The Hero'. This is just an absolutley fantastic track and would fit into a live set with ease. The way it breaks down and changes tempo, with it building back up into a faster paced is brilliant. Penultimate track, 'Live For The Kill' is a faster number and 'Embrace of The Endless Ocean' brings the album gradually to to a close with a more softer approach than that of any other tracks on the album, yet it is still packed with some good riffs and melodies.

So with that, the 43 minute length album has flown by. All in all, this is a really good album from start to finish with some truly outstanding tracks on it, oh and the artwork for the album isn't bad either! Any metal fan, let alone any AMON AMARTH fans will be happy with this. It's full of their usual traits, with some progression which shows that the band are maturing and are still able to write kick ass records. I for one, can't wait for their Viking ships to set sails to these shores once more for a tour.

Rating: 4.2/5.0

Adam Fredericks

Released: 22nd September 2008

You can catch AMON AMARTH on the upcoming Unholy Alliance Tour with SLAYER, TRIVIUM and MASTODON. Datesare as follows:

October 2008

27th – Manchester MEN Arena

28th – Birmingham NEC

30th – London Hammersmith Apollo

31st – London Hammersmith Apollo

November 2008

2nd – Cardiff CIA

3rd – Glasgow SECC