Amon Amarth: Always One Step Ahead

When Amon Amarth arrived to the Heavy Metal spectrum, they immediately stomped the ground with lots of might and in a thick Scandinavian accent said: "we are here to kick your ass with some brutal chaotic Metal"! The band was formed in 1988 in Tumba, Sweden, but didn't catch their "break" until 1998 when their full length album titled "Once Sent from the Golden Hall" was released via Metal Blade Records. Ever since then, the band has been one of the most hard working bands in the world and without having a "commercial" sound, they have managed to gather a significant worldwide audience.

After barely missing the first train that carried the first wave of Swedish Death Metal with bands like Entombed and Dismember, the Swedish Metal Vikings jumped on board the second train and made it derail with their energetic, chaotic, well crafted music. Ever since then Heavy Metal has been a more dangerous and unpredictable genre.

What we've always liked about Amon Amarth is their ability to expand their musical style, without losing sight of their ultimate goal. They also possess a "signature sound", which is harder and harder to find these days. Their hard work and perseverance has recently been rewarded: the band recently hit the number 1 spot on the Billboard charts, and after the success of their "An Evening with Amon Amarth" tour all across North America, they have already announced a second leg of the tour (click for tour dates). We wouldn't be surprised if the band takes a Swedish Grammy next February in Stockholm.

Amon Amarth is:
Johan Hegg
Johan Söderberg
Olavi Mikkonen
Ted Lundström
Fredrik Andersson

Amon Amarth's Discography:

- Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds (1996)
- Once Sent from the Golden Hall (1998)
- The Avenger (1999)
- The Crusher (2001)
- Versus the World (2002)
- Fate of Norns (2004)
- With Oden on Our Side (2006)
- Twilight of the Thunder God (2008)
- Surtur Rising (2011)

Prior to their recent show at New York City's Best Buy Theater, we had the chance to interview Amon Amarth's bassist Ted Lundström about the past, the present, and the future of Amon Amarth! Hold on to your sits, because this is going to get dangerous! \m/



Special thanks to Amon Amarth, Metal Blade Records and Earsplit PR!

Photo credit: Betyouidid and Tania Gomez

Related links:
Official landing page for Surtur Rising
Amon Amarth's Official site
Metal Blade TV
Amon Amarth on Facebook
Follow Amon Amarth on Twitter
Amon Amarth on MySpace