Throughout its history, heavy metal has done well to avoid pretense. Bands sung about topics like slaying dragons, chasing women, and partying. Then, at some point during the 1990s, the cancer of nu metal started to metastasize in the heavy metal genre. Bands started singing about relationships and their feelings in an effort to gain mainstream popularity. Were not talking about an obligatory power ballad here and there"some bands sung about nothing else than how miserable they were and how sad they were over a failed relationship.
Fortunately, the cancerous tumor in the body of heavy metal is now in remission and the tide is turning back. Mopey lyrics and wimpy riffs are giving way to thundering power chords and lyrical brutality. Among the bands bringing forth a 'nu metal' backlash is Swedish Viking metal band Amon Amarth. As the name implies, bands from the Viking metal genre sing about subjects of interest to vikings such as sailing, lusting for adventure and conquest, furious winds and treacherous seas.
Amon Amarth took their name from a location in J.R.R. Tolkiens Middle Earth, and their name means Mount Doom in the Elvish language of Sindarin. Mount Doom would have been a decent name in itself, but its roots in Tolkiens sword and sorcery classic makes it all the better. Their first demo release, The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter, set the thematic tone for their work to come. Drawing musical inspiration from bands such as Bolt Thrower and their Viking metal predecessors Bathory and Enslaved, who in turn took their cue from the great American band Manowar, Amon Amarth plays their own unique style of melodic death metal. While they are hesitant to claim the Viking metal mantle for their own, they take most of their lyrical content from Viking history and Norse mythology.
The bands international popularity began to take off in 1998, when they signed with Metal Blade Records and released their major label debut Once Sent From The Golden Hall. Their most recent releases on Metal Blade"2004s Fate of Norns and 2006s With Oden On Our Side"has seen the band become one of the top metal acts in North America as well as their native Sweden.
Amon Amarth recently extended their deal with Metal Blade records, and released their latest album 'Twilight of the Thunder God' in September 2008. The album quickly became the best selling release of their career, and was met with critical acclaim from the heavy metal media worldwide.
Heavy metal as a genre is making a worldwide resurgence, particularly the Amon Amarth style of 'Viking Metal' and other related acts with a similar thematic focus on epic adventure. The band tours constantly, and their powerful live show has earned them a reputation as one of the 'must see' concert acts. - 30404
Fortunately, the cancerous tumor in the body of heavy metal is now in remission and the tide is turning back. Mopey lyrics and wimpy riffs are giving way to thundering power chords and lyrical brutality. Among the bands bringing forth a 'nu metal' backlash is Swedish Viking metal band Amon Amarth. As the name implies, bands from the Viking metal genre sing about subjects of interest to vikings such as sailing, lusting for adventure and conquest, furious winds and treacherous seas.
Amon Amarth took their name from a location in J.R.R. Tolkiens Middle Earth, and their name means Mount Doom in the Elvish language of Sindarin. Mount Doom would have been a decent name in itself, but its roots in Tolkiens sword and sorcery classic makes it all the better. Their first demo release, The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter, set the thematic tone for their work to come. Drawing musical inspiration from bands such as Bolt Thrower and their Viking metal predecessors Bathory and Enslaved, who in turn took their cue from the great American band Manowar, Amon Amarth plays their own unique style of melodic death metal. While they are hesitant to claim the Viking metal mantle for their own, they take most of their lyrical content from Viking history and Norse mythology.
The bands international popularity began to take off in 1998, when they signed with Metal Blade Records and released their major label debut Once Sent From The Golden Hall. Their most recent releases on Metal Blade"2004s Fate of Norns and 2006s With Oden On Our Side"has seen the band become one of the top metal acts in North America as well as their native Sweden.
Amon Amarth recently extended their deal with Metal Blade records, and released their latest album 'Twilight of the Thunder God' in September 2008. The album quickly became the best selling release of their career, and was met with critical acclaim from the heavy metal media worldwide.
Heavy metal as a genre is making a worldwide resurgence, particularly the Amon Amarth style of 'Viking Metal' and other related acts with a similar thematic focus on epic adventure. The band tours constantly, and their powerful live show has earned them a reputation as one of the 'must see' concert acts. - 30404
About the Author:
David Glisan is popular culture editor for The Savage Science, a website covering both MMA news and heavy metal music. He's an also a fight sport expert, and reportsUFC news for several mainstream sports broadcasts and websites. He's studied judo since childhood and has earned the rank of black belt.
