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AMON AMARTH
www.amonamarth.com
Press blurb accompanying this release boldly states: "Not many bands can claim their ninth album as the most powerful, dynamic, and downright aggressive of their career." In actual fact, most bands, or at least their labels/publicists, do make such sweeping assertions with each new release. It's an inherent part of the PR marketing machine, steeped in ideology and aimed at "pulling the wool" no matter how good or bad a particular record is. There are always a proportion of suckers out there who'll believe all the hype, right? Or at least that's what record labels rely upon when overselling something that is actually an undeniably abysmal piece of crap. There are occasions, however, when the predictable "this is the best album we've ever made" type of statement transpires to be one of integrity. And here is one such occasion - Amon Amarth's latest opus, 'Deceiver of the Gods', is actually "the most powerful, dynamic, and downright aggressive of their career." In the same year that's seen Amorphis, Dark Tranquillity and Children of Bodom release their best, most consistently great, albums for many a year, it seems that 2013 is the year for Scandinavian metallers to truly shine.

So what makes this one so special? For starters, there's a more up-tempo, unrestrained, aggressive energy this time around with greater weight given to classic metal flavours than on any previous release. The Swedes' core sound is still present so this is easily identifiable as an Amon Amarth record, although they've progressed (or, it could be argued, regressed) their general melo-death aesthetic to incorporate more distinct bursts of thrash and trad-metal riffage. The songs' melodies are as captivating as they've ever been and the general vibe remains an epic sounding one, although it's all delivered and executed with a discernible zest and wrapped up in classic metal gusto. So a step back in terms of style with a strong nod towards metal's past, but a step forward in Amon Amarth's musical palette. I guess it's something of a risk they've taken with such an approach but it works a treat. And with Andy Sneap's production talents at work - a first for the band and a bold move away from the equally talented Jens Bogren who produced the last three - 'Deceiver of the Gods' sounds massive, and massively aggressive (guitarist Olavi Mikkonen is quoted as crediting Sneap for the overall aggressive sound). Legendary ex-Candlemass frontman Messiah Marcolin crops up on 'Hel' with his histrionic vocals over the chorus, delivered simultaneously with Johan Hegg's growls; a nice touch and helps enhance the album's classic metal underpinnings. Fantastic stuff all round.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Metal Blade
Album
DECEIVER OF THE GODS
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Review by Mark Holmes
RUNNING TIME:
47:58
RELEASE DATE:
24th June 2013
TRACK LISTING
1) Deceiver of the Gods
2) As Loke Falls
3) Father of the Wolf
4) Shape Shifter
5) Under Siege
6) Blood Eagle
7) We Shall Destroy
8) Hel
9) Coming of the Tide
10) Warriors of the North
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Sweden
"...songs' melodies are as captivating as they've ever been and the general vibe remains an epic sounding one, although it's all delivered and executed with a discernible zest and wrapped up in classic metal gusto."
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