VIKING THEMED AMON AMARTH

Swedish death metal band Amon Amarth originally formed in 1988 under the name Scum; by the time the new moniker was adopted four years later, the line-up consisted of vocalist Johan Hegg, guitarists Olli Mikkonen and Anders Hansson, bassist Ted Lundstrom and drummer Niko Kaukinen. In 1993, the quintet recorded their first demo Thor Arise, which went unreleased due to sound problems; a second demo, Arrival of the Fimbul Winter, followed in 1994, quickly selling out all 1000 copies. Signing to the Singapore-based Pulverised label, Amon Amarth issued the EP Sorrow Throughout the Nine World in mid-1996; soon after Kaukinen exited, and was replaced by drummer Martin Lopez for 1998's full-length Once Sent from the Golden Hall. When both Hansson and Lopez defected from the line-up, the remaining members of Amon Amarth tapped new guitarist Johan Söderberg and drummer Fredrik Andersson for 1999's The Avenger. Crusher followed three years later.Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide


Amon Amarth is a Viking-themed melodic death metal band from Tumba, Sweden, founded in 1988 (current name since 1992)[1], and named after an alternative name for Mount Doom, a location in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. As of 2009, the band is signed with Metal Blade Records and has released seven studio albums, one EP, one DVD, and seven music videos.

History

Formed under the name Scum in 1988, the band was originally a grindcore group formed by Paul "Themgoroth" Mäkitalo (Dark Funeral) on vocals, Olavi Mikkonen on guitar, and Ted Lundström on bass. When Johan Hegg joined the band, their music changed towards melodic death metal. After a 1991 demo, they changed the band's name to Amon Amarth in 1992, then recorded their first demo Thor Arise under the name in 1993 following another demo in 1994 entitled The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter. In 1996, they signed with Pulverised Records, on which they released their first MCD, Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds, which sold 6000 copies.[2] They then signed with Metal Blade Records, and with the release of the album Once Sent from the Golden Hall in 1998, their popularity rose internationally. Since then they have done multiple Canada and US tours, festival appearances, seven music videos, and appearances in over 100 metal magazines.[2] In early January 2008, their first tour of Australia and New Zealand took place, along with supporting Dimmu Borgir, after finishing a US and Canadian tour with Sonic Syndicate and Himsa.

Amon Amarth extended their record deal with Metal Blade Records for three more albums.[3] After extending their record deal, the band released Twilight of the Thunder God, which featured guest appearances by Lars Göran Petrov of Entombed, Roope Latvala of Children of Bodom, and the cello metal band Apocalyptica. Accompanying the release of the album was an eight-page comic strip based on Norse mythology which was released by magazines from all over Europe.

Amon Amarth has embarked on a North American headlining tour in October 2008, with support from Ensiferum, Belphegor, and a melodic death metal band from Tampa named The Absence.[4] The band are also touring as support for the thrash metal band Slayer throughout Europe on the Unholy Alliance Chapter III.

Musical style and lyrical themes

The band bases most of their songs on Norse mythology, the Viking Age, and the pre-Christian world. This mythology is an element that originally emerged as an ideological off-shoot of black metal in a genre known as Viking metal in the early 1990s, made popular by such bands as Bathory and Enslaved. Lead singer Johan Hegg's sister has once contributed lyrics for the band for the song “A Thousand Years of Oppression” on Versus the World.

When asked to comment on the band's genre, vocalist Johan Hegg remarked:
“ We play death metal. We write about vikings so, therefore, some refer us to viking metal, but I have no idea what that is. I can't imagine the viking’s veer into metal at all except on the swords and stuff. And musically, I guess they only played these strange lip instruments and some bongos or whatever.

DISCOGRAPHY

1991 Demo 1 Self-released as Scum
1996 Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds Pulverised
1998 Once Sent from the Golden Hall Metal Blade
1999 The Avenger Metal Blade
2001 The Crusher Metal Blade
2002 Versus the World Metal Blade
2004 Fate of Norns Metal Blade
2006 With Oden on Our Side Metal Blade
2008 Twilight of the Thunder God Metal Blade

Former Members:

* Anders Hansson − guitar (1989 - 1998)
* Nico Kaukinen − drums (1989 - 1996)
* Martin Lopez − drums (1996 - 1998)

As Scum:

* Paul "Themgoroth" Mäkitalo − vocals (1988 - 1991)

Current Members

* Johan Hegg − vocals (1992 - Present)
* Johan Söderberg − guitar (1998 - Present)
* Olavi Mikkonen − guitar (1988 - Present)
* Ted Lundström − bass (1988 - Present)
* Fredrik Andersson − drums (1998 - Present)