Search - Amon Amarth :: Versus the World

What's this I see?

Vanes | Stratosphere | 01/19/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A reason to live that's been a long time coming.A worldview into the Pagan with the most emotive musicianship I've seen. I've said it that this is my favorite metal album in terms of guitars and their emotions and the creative interplay between the guitars and I am transported. If my friends never reclaim me as such i stand before the gates with the fortitude this provides. I am ready to Take on the world, As Amon Amarth "Vs. the World"!"

DIE FOR HONOR, GLORY, DEATH IN FIRE!!

Jeremy Brackeen | Cameron, WI United States | 01/15/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Versus the World" is a brutally crushing, majestic, and all around amazing album from Swedish viking/melodic death metal titans Amon Amarth, and it's also one of the best albums in the band's catalog as well. I must say that I have really become a big fan of Amon Amarth lately, ever since I bought "With Oden on Our Side" as well as their latest album "Twilight of the Thunder God" (which is AA's best album thus far). I've also recently gotten "Fate of Norns" for Christmas just this past year as well. Amon Amarth are definately one of my favorite bands now, and they're also currently my favorite melodic death metal band right now as well. I bought this album at FYE back in November just last year, and I just love it. I listen to this album just about every week, I just can't get enough of it. Whenever I listen to Amon Amarth, I always feel like I'm a viking charging into battle, they're music is heavy, crushing and brutal, yet it's also very majestic, atmospheric and melodic as well. Well anyways, "Versus the World" is an absolutely amazing album that immediately charges and stampedes through your speakers right from the get-go and never stops from that moment on. The lyrics are very fascinating and brilliant which of course center on viking herritage, warfare, religion, Norse Mythology, and battles for honor and glory, and the musicianship is just outstanding. Leading the charge is vocalist Johan Hegg, who dominates throughout with his fierce, visceral, commanding growls that will make you want to shout/growl along in unison. The guitarwork of Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Soderberg is just awesome on here with heavy, brutal, charging headbanging worthy riffs, addicting tremolo picking leads and majestic melodies which can all create great battle-like atmospheres. Bassist Ted Lundstrom rides his way throughout with nice, strong basslines, and Fredrik Andersson's drumming is absolutely punishing throughout with heavy, pummeling, marching beats and relentless double bass kicking onslaughts.



Here's a look at some highlights.



The opening song "Death In Fire" is a classic Amon Amarth song, and one of their best known songs as well, which is highlighted by an awesome headbanging mid-paced tempo, powerful, stampeding double bass drumming, brutal, pummeling riffage, and there's also a very cool finger tapping lead part around 1:51, and a sweet melodic solo by Soderberg around 3:50. This is no doubt, one of my favorite AA songs, and a great headbanging anthem too. Track two "For the Stabwounds in Our Backs" starts off slow with some bells tolling, but quickly launches into an all out speedfest which features charging, speeding, wild, thrashing riffs, and brutal, enraged growling from Johan. Track three "Where Silent Gods Stand Guard" is my personal favorite song on this album, as well as another one of my favorite Amon Amarth songs. This song always gets stuck in my head, and it gets me pumped up every time I hear it. This song lyrically tells a story about a man who slays his enemies, and then brings their skulls to his shrine. Fredrik's drumming is just fantastic, which features a catchy mid-paced drum beat, and rattling double bass kicks, and the riffs are just excellent and addicting, especially with some catchy melodic riffing from 2:34 to 3:34, and there's also an awesomely melodic and majestic guitar solo by Mikkonen around 4:12 as well.



The title track is another highlight on here, and is brutally heavy, punishing, and downright merciless throughout. This song is highlighted by churning, chilling, menacing riffs, hefty marching drum beats, and merciless double bass kicking. Johan's growls are absolutely furious and ruthless on this song. The chorus is absolutely amazing especially with some great melodic tremolo picking riffs included, and there's also an epic instrumental breakdown around the 3 minute mark that will make you bang your head in unison. Track six "Down the Slopes of Death" is another ruthless and menacing cut that features vicious, pummeling drums, relentless riffing, and more of Johan's fierce, commanding growls. Track seven "A Thousand Years of Oppression" is a more slower, doomish cut that features excellent melodic guitarwork throughout especially with some sweet tremolo picking leads, and "...and Soon the World Will Cease to Be" is an excellent album closer (which lyrically tells about Ragnarok's occurances) that is highlighted by addictingly epic tremolo picking riffs, more hefty, pummeling skin beats and rattling double bass kicks, and the ending part is very cool as well. As an added bonus, we also have a bonus disc that includes "Siegreicher Marsch" which is a German version of "Victorious March", as well as a collection of older demos and remastered songs.



Jeremy's song ratings:

1. Death in Fire (4:54) - 10/10

2. For the Stabwounds in Our Backs (4:56) - 10/10

3. Where Silent Gods Stand Guard (5:46) - 10/10

4. Versus the World (5:21) - 10/10

5. Across the Rainbow Bridge (4:50) - 10/10

6. Down the Slopes of Death (4:08) - 10/10

7. A Thousand Years of Oppression (5:41) - 10/10

8. Bloodshed (5:13) - 10/10

9. ...and Soon the World Will Cease to Be (6:57) - 10/10



Overall, "Versus the World" is a serious must have for any fan of Amon Amarth, death metal, viking metal, melodic death metal, but mostly metal period. This album is no doubt, a heavily crushing, yet majestically melodic viking/death metal classic that should NOT be ignored, even by the serious metalhead. Buy this album now!! ALL HAIL AMON AMARTH!!



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