adminAmon Amarth @Wolverhampton Civic Hall, 11.10.26
Swedish death metallers Amon Amarth set sail for the shores of England once again and were joined by fellow natives Soilwork and Orbit Culture in the heart of the British Black Country.
Johan Hegg and his trusted allies laid siege to the Midlands in support of The Allfather Awakes. The 13th and latest chapter in the quintet’s catalogue was thrust upon the hordes who descended upon Wolverhampton’s Civic Hall with Gjallahorn immediately cementing itself within the Amon Amarth repertoire.
Chugging riffs, wrist-shattering tremolo picking and healthy doses of double kick: the Viking feast had begun and showed no sign of relenting when Hegg and co turned back time and unleashed hell.
War of the Gods, Death in Fire and Deceiver of the Gods reminded the Amon Amarth faithful of the band’s finest moments before a debut outing for the title track from their thirteenth and latest instalment — The Allfather Awakes.
Barely two weeks old, their newest album raised eyebrows with its first single throwing up acoustic hymn Upphaf. Despite early trepidation upon its release, the band’s next singles showed their ride to the centre of earth would be one of treachery and hellfire.
Hermod’s Ride to Hel, their sole nod to the chronically underrated With Oden On Our Side, made an outing before modernity ruled the waves once again as newer material took centre stage.
Cue hundreds of fans taking a seat and sailing their imaginary ship towards the famed canals of the Midlands during Put Your Back Into The Oar.
The folk-fuelled Upphaf brought a moment of calm and campfire before tranquility made way for the pounding of Scandinavian hooves — with Eight Legs of Thunder handed its initial run within a mammoth 19-song setlist.
That same setlist meandered through epic tales of Viking warfare with Guardians of Asgaard and Shield Wall playing their part in the final furlong of The Allfather Awakes tour.
Biff Byford’s virtual appearance during Saxons and Vikings was further proof that Amon Amarth are among the living legends of metal. The deal was sealed as, predictably, Twilight of the Thunder God brought the curtain down on a memorable performance.
The Allfather Awakes takes Amon Amarth toward brave new territories, but the familiarity and formula that have paved the way for their dominance within the genre is there for all to witness.
Guy Bell