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Amon Amarth – With Oden On Our Side

The integration of mythology into music has always been something of grey area in the music scene. Surprisingly to the inclusion of other cultures into the music is becoming a popular trend in the world extreme music particularly death metal one being North Carolina's Egyptian mythology obsessed Nile. Another is Stockholm's Amon Amarth. Unashamed of their Scandinavian roots the Swedish quartet has been churning out their own brand melodic death metal since 1992 and shows no signs of stopping.

Fifth album With Oden On Our Side opens with the stomping 'Valhall Awaits Me', vocalist Johan Hegg has distinct growl that has great degree of clarity. 'Runes To My Memory' takes the old school metal song writing style of Iron Maiden and gives it a modern sounding twist. 'Asator' has the galloping Judas Priest style intro before ripping some brutal technical death metal complete with some down right impressive shredding. 'Gods Of War Arise' has the distinct Swedish sounding edge to it and can be easily compared to the mighty At The Gates. Guitarists Johan Soderberg and Olli Mikkonen twin leads almost give the Amott brothers a run for there money.

Though With Oden On Our Side has the all the makings of a battle album with the Viking mythology and imagery it seems a little unfair to simply label Amon Amarth as just another battle metal band. Yes, their style is epic but compared to their Gothenburg contemporaries (Arch Enemy, The Haunted, etc) Amon Amarth have a lot more innovativeness and don't be afraid to do their own thing.

Unique, powerful and forceful. These guys could very well be the next In Flames.