Swedish metal legends AMON AMARTH unleash their essential new album The Allfather Awakens, today via Metal Blade. The ten-song masterwork marks the beginning of a new world and further cements the legacy of their spectacularly memorable riffs, unflinching melodic aural power and powerfully rendered lyrics. Three decades in, Amon Amarth remain a band of brothers, and that loyalty and unity allow for harmony and a united front that conquers both the stage and record.
For Amon Amarth, a new album marks the beginning of a new world. As with previous records, Oden, the Norse “all father” who is a deity of war, wisdom, death, magic, and poetry, is the through-line in Amon Amarth’s lyrics and artwork. Once again, Oden is the band’s inspiration, but The Allfather Awakens is not a concept album, rather a collection of historically inspired epic tales of conflict and sacrifice for a greater good.
The Allfather Awakens includes Amon Amarth’s first-ever acoustic excursion “Upphaf” which carries the solemnity of an oral history whispered under the shadow of the Allfather. The album’s following singles “Gjallarhorn” and “Eight Legs of Thunder” arrived as furious Amon Amarth classics. Today’s focus track “The Allfather Awakes” encompasses the album’s overall theme – “wisdom, knowledge and facts need to become the guide for the future,” cautions frontman and lyricist Johan Hegg.
Listen / Share / Watch “The Allfather Awakes” Visualizer
To gain wisdom beyond mortal comprehension, Oden made the ultimate sacrifice — gouging out his own eye and casting it into the Well of Wisdom, Mímisbrunnr, in exchange for cosmic insight and foresight that would shape the fate of gods and men alike. Now, Amon Amarth bring that ancient reckoning to life and they are extending Oden’s offer to you. Those who received the eye know what must be done. Those who did not: seek it out. Sacrifice your sight. Gain your foresight.
Amon Amarth took a new songwriting approach for The Allfather Awakens. The album came to life across two recording sessions, months apart, at producer Jacob Hansen’s studio in Denmark. Amon Amarth began writing songs while touring, rather than waiting until they were off the road. The writing and recording process allowed the musicians to intensely focus on each track, resulting in an album where each song was treated as a single. Guitar-wise, Amon Amarth opted for a slightly less modern approach sonically, moving away from 5150 amps and back to Marshalls. The music was written before the lyrics, setting the tone for the words.
The Allfather Awakens is yet another step up, introducing previously untried efforts, an impressive and conscious musical and lyrical feat after three decades of band-dom. Next week, Amon Amarth commence their journey across the U.K. and Europe. The Allfather Awakens will take physical form on stage as the band unveils an entirely new production inspired by Oden’s legendary Golden Hall, transforming their iconic concert experience into a living extension of the new album. See below for a full list of worldwide dates; visit here for tickets and more info.
