One of the most appealing qualities of heavy metal has always been its defiance of popular trends. While other genres of music groveled for 'crossover appeal' and mainstream acceptance, heavy metal has always been unapologetic about what it is. In the 1990's, the plague of 'nu metal' struck. 'Nu Metal' fused watered down heavy metal riffs with mopey, introspective lyrics more commonly associated with bad 'adult contemporary' artists.
The good news is that the 'nu metal' movement has been met with a serious backlash. Among the defenders of traditional metal values is Swedish Viking metal band Amon Amarth. As the name implies, bands from the Viking metal genre sing about subjects of interest to vikings such as sailing, lusting for adventure and conquest, furious winds and treacherous seas.
Amon Amarth took their name from a location in J.R.R. Tolkiens Middle Earth, and their name means Mount Doom in the Elvish language of Sindarin. Drawing musical inspiration from bands such as Bolt Thrower and their Viking metal predecessors Bathory and Enslaved, who in turn took their cue from the great American band Manowar, Amon Amarth plays their own unique style of melodic death metal. While they are hesitant to identify themselves as Viking metal, they take most of their lyrical content from Viking history and Norse mythology.
The bands international popularity began to take off in 1998, when they signed with Metal Blade Records and released their major label debut Once Sent From The Golden Hall. Their most recent releases on Metal Blade"2004s Fate of Norns and 2006s With Oden On Our Side"has seen the band become one of the top metal acts in North America as well as their native Sweden.
Amon Amarth recently extended their deal with Metal Blade records and released their latest album in September 2008 called 'Twilight of the Thunder God'. The album continues their thematic examination of their Viking ancestors, and has become their biggest seller to date.
Heavy metal is gaining strength and resuming its powerful greatness under the marauding sound of Amon Amarth. The band tours constantly, so dont miss their brutal onslaught when they come to a town near you.
The good news is that the 'nu metal' movement has been met with a serious backlash. Among the defenders of traditional metal values is Swedish Viking metal band Amon Amarth. As the name implies, bands from the Viking metal genre sing about subjects of interest to vikings such as sailing, lusting for adventure and conquest, furious winds and treacherous seas.
Amon Amarth took their name from a location in J.R.R. Tolkiens Middle Earth, and their name means Mount Doom in the Elvish language of Sindarin. Drawing musical inspiration from bands such as Bolt Thrower and their Viking metal predecessors Bathory and Enslaved, who in turn took their cue from the great American band Manowar, Amon Amarth plays their own unique style of melodic death metal. While they are hesitant to identify themselves as Viking metal, they take most of their lyrical content from Viking history and Norse mythology.
The bands international popularity began to take off in 1998, when they signed with Metal Blade Records and released their major label debut Once Sent From The Golden Hall. Their most recent releases on Metal Blade"2004s Fate of Norns and 2006s With Oden On Our Side"has seen the band become one of the top metal acts in North America as well as their native Sweden.
Amon Amarth recently extended their deal with Metal Blade records and released their latest album in September 2008 called 'Twilight of the Thunder God'. The album continues their thematic examination of their Viking ancestors, and has become their biggest seller to date.
Heavy metal is gaining strength and resuming its powerful greatness under the marauding sound of Amon Amarth. The band tours constantly, so dont miss their brutal onslaught when they come to a town near you.
About the Author:
David Glisan is popular culture editor for The Savage Science, a website covering both MMA news and heavy metal music. He's an avid MMA and boxing enthusiast as well, and reportsUFC news for several mainstream sports broadcasts and websites. He's studied martial arts since childhood and holds a black belt in judo.
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