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Amon Amarth

Amon Amarth is a viking-themed death metal band from Tumba, Sweden. They are the greatest viking death metal band EVER.

The name "Amon Amarth" is taken from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-Earth universe, and means "Mt. Doom".
Yes, you read that correctly. THE Mt. Doom. As in, the volcano that spawned the "One Ring" in Lord Of The Rings. They are named after a fucking volcano!
Amon Amarth is the greatest viking-themed death metal band.

Johan Hegg - Vocals(1992-Present):

"Let us all pray...to ODEN!"

Olavi Mikkonen - Guitars(1988-Present):

"Everybody sing with me: A, B, C, D, E, F, G..."

Johan Soderberg - Guitars(1998-Present):

"I'm simply flabbergasted by how awesome my hands look right now."

Ted Lundstrom - Bass(1988-Present):

"Screw you Johan! My bass solo is so much better."

Fredrik Andersson - Drums(1998-Present):

"Why can't you bastards get a shot of me while I'm on stage?"

The band was originally formed as a "grindcore" band, named Scum in 1988. Grindcore is infamous for shitty band names. The band consisted of Paul "Themgoroth" Makitalo on vocals, Olavi Mikkonen on guitar, and Ted Lundstrom on bass. Johan Hegg joined the band soon after, and they changed their sound to "melodic death metal". After a demo in 1991, and after realizing that "Scum" wasn't cool enough sounding for a death metal band, they decided to change the band name to "Amon Amarth" in 1992. Soon after, they released their first demo Thor Arise in 1993, and then another in 1994 named The Arrival Of The Fimbul Winter. In 1996, they signed with Pulverized Records, where they released a "Mini-CD" entitled Sorrow Throughout The Nine Worlds. They later signed with Metal Blade Records, and released Once Sent From The Golden Hall in 1998. Ever since they have been dominating the death metal scene with all of their "Thor" and their "Oden" and whatnot.

Sorrow Throughout The Nine Worlds

Description:

This is their debut EP, and was their first attempt at "melodic death metal". Released in 1996 as a limited edition EP, it originally sold 1500 copies. The music itself was a MASSIVE step into "melodic death metal".

Best Song Name From the Album:

#4. The Mighty Doors Of The Speargod's Hall

Despite the relatively calm name, try focusing on the "Speargod". Seriously, why the hell would you want to go into a Speargods hall? Or even stand outside the door, for that matter?

Once Sent From The Golden Hall

Description:

Their first full-length album, it was also originally limited, this time only selling 1000 copies in 1998. The album sounds like their original demos, except more refined, and leans even more towards "melodic death metal". Not to mention the album art is bad ass, and is WAY cooler than it's predecessor, whatever that picture even is.

Best Song Name From The Album:

#7. Amon Amarth

Yes, they seriously wrote a song named after themselves. And yes, it is badass.

The Avenger

Description:

Their second full-length album, released in 1999 and NOT limited to very few copies. With a much clearer sound, this album paves the way for greater albums in the future. Sticking with the melodic sound, the band clearly knows what they are doing at this point. The album art is decent, but not as bad ass as the one before it.

Best Song Name From The Album:

#8. Thor Arise

The fact that Thor, the Norse God of Thunder and son of Oden, was "down" in the first place is a frightening thought. Combine that with the idea that he is going to be pissed when he actually does "arise", and you have one Hel of a nightmare.

The Crusher

Description:

The third full-length album released by the band. At this point, the band has mastered "melodic death metal", and even the viking theme they were looking for. The album art is the highlight of this one. Ok, it clearly depicts a Conan-esque viking, with an amazingly well-kept handlebar mustache. And it looks like he is simultaneously smashing lightning with a gigantic boulder-looking thing, and also preparing to punch it. We get the idea that this man-hulk is "The Crusher", but that is it. Now that we look at it, what the hell is he doing?!

Best Song Name From The Album:

#6. A Fury Divine

We assume that they are referring to Thor's fury, after the episode in the last album. Someone's going to get a lightning bolt reaming.

Versus The World

Description:

Obviously the fourth full-length album released by the band, released in 2002. This album features a clear change of rhythm, focusing way more on "melodic" and not so much "old-school death metal". The album, compared to the previous ones, is a progressive, yet slower paced, step forward in the "sound" of Amon Amarth. The album art here is very straightforward. Versus The World depicts yet another Conan-esque barbarian holding up and shield and sword, facing the world. And he's standing in fire, so that's automatically awesome.

Best Song From The Album:

Who are we kidding? Every song on this album sounds bad ass. From Death In Fire(#1) to Down The Slopes Of Death(#6), all the way to ...And Soon The World Will Cease To Be(#9). We would like to point out the the viking depicted on the cover is planning to fight the entire world with a sword and a shield. A fucking SWORD AND SHIELD. He is either a lunatic for standing up to modern weaponry, or he is Thor himself, in which case we are lunatics for standing up to him.

Fate Of Norns

Description:

Do we have to tell you which album this is(fifth, if you must know)? This album continues their slower, more "melodic" progression. It was released in 2004, and...wait. What the hell is wrong with the album art? If you would kindly scroll up and view the last albums artwork, and then compare it to this one, you'll see what we are talking about. We went from a very intimidating viking standing up to all of civilization, to a shield with pictures on it getting slow-cooked. What happened Amon Amarth?! Why decide to downgrade when you were on such a streak of AWESOME?

Best Song On The Album:

When we saw the cover of this album, we expected to see nothing but shitty songs too. Surprisingly, there is a song called The Beheading Of A King(#6), which makes up instantly for the horrible album cover.

With Oden On Our Side

Description:

The band's sixth full-length album, released in 2006. This album continues the heaviness presented in the last album, complete with their signature sound and a memorable tracklist. Aside from Versus The World, this album is one of the band's best. And though it does not have the greatest album art(see above), it depicts true viking symbolism, with Oden riding on the famous eight-legged horse Sleipnir, and the symbol of the Valknut behind them.

Best Song On The Album:

#5. Gods Of War Arise

As you, the reader, may have realized, we give the title of "Best Song" to the coolest sounding song on the album, and this one takes it. One "God Of War" is scary enough, but look at the title closer. GODS means that there are multiple divine entities rising to bring war. Amon Amarth continues to get scarier and scarier.

Twilight Of The Thunder God

Description:

Their seventh, and latest, full-length album. And HOLY SHIT what an album. From the epicness of Versus The World, to the (slightly) better With Oden On Our Side, and now this...ear-raping sound. This album is a glorious upgrade from the previous one. With Roope Latvala, guitarist for Children Of Bodom; Entombed vocalist Lars Goran Petrov; and even the "cello metal" band Apocalyptica making guest appearances on the album, this album was meant for greatness. And the artwork depicts Thor fighting the "Jormungandr", the viking equivalent of the Kracken. In comparison to the last album, this album kicks Kra-...er, Jormungandr-ass.

Best Song On The Album:

Are you kidding? Do you expect us to seriously pick a "Best" song from this album?Just look at the tracklist and you be the judge.