Review by Stephen Pedicino
Swedish Vikings Amon Amarth… hairy, scary, and mighty capable. They’ve slowly evolved into one of Europe’s premier metal bands without really evolving their music. I’ll give ‘em props. With the 2002 release of Versus the World, they began to draw greater public acclaim. Hence, it was a very important album. But here we have the re-released sophomore effort from this now legendary group. It may not be the most recognized, but The Avenger laid the foundation for this band’s discography, perhaps making it an even more essential piece of work.
No Amon Amarth fan will dispute that “Bleed for Ancient Gods” is a downright classic. With ferocious distorted guitars, hammering percussion, and the beastly rasps of Johan Hegg, this opening track will eviscerate you. It’s like getting raped by Odin himself. Catchy and destructive…“The Last With Pagan Blood” is slower and more triumphant; perfect for when you and you’re buds go out pillaging helpless villages with swords and battleaxes. But why stop at this one song? This whole album is appropriate for raising carnage. Just read some lyrics…
“We draw the blood of those in our way
Its victory or die
With pounding, raging fury we slay
Now Christian hounds will pay
Charge ahead, no retreat
No mercy, none shall live
To us there is no defeat
No remorse to give”
I mean, who COULDN”T relate to this stuff?
The title track, “The Avenger,” is one of the longer songs Amon Amarth have produced. It marches on for over seven minutes. However, there’s little flavor or distinction aside from the runtime, rendering it the only song on the album I found to be kind of bland. One mediocre song is typically negligible, but when you subtract “The Avenger” from the rest of the original runtime, you’re left with less than 30 minutes of music! I guess the only bright side to a short album is little commitment. But, since I enjoy The Avenger, I would have liked some more meat n’ potatoes.
“God, His Son and Holy Whore” is obviously a track you won’t find on the Pope’s IPod. It’s a ballsy tune mainly powered by tremolo guitars and persistent, up-tempo drumming (you could say that about a decent chunk of this band’s discography, but especially here). Although primitive in nature, it gets the job done. Think of it as a sufficient conglomeration of the previous tracks. The belligerence isn’t lowered at all with the subsequent, “Metalwrath.” I’ve never listened to this song drunk, but if I ever do, hopefully I’m not around anyone I love. The lyrics are pretty much as Viking as it gets.
“We're coming after you
You can't escape us
We'll take away your breath
See us ride for vengeance
Friends of the suncross
We are born of steel”
You may notice a trend with the prior lyrics…
“Legend of A Banished Man” is probably my favorite track off The Avenger and also one of the most captivating death metal songs in my collection. A certain depth and maturity really elevates this track to another level. Epic stuff. You’ll be gripped by eerie, mountainous winds and ominous bass riffs before being seized by an addictively chugging rhythm. Six minutes of death metal drama. 5 stars…
The one bonus track is entitled “Thor Arise” and is a very hearty serving of Viking pie. But, Amon Amarth probably realized that the album is STILL too short even with a bonus track. Soooo, they decided to include a live recording of The Avenger performed in it’s entirety during a concert in Bochum, Germany. A pretty nice treat if you ask me. The sound is well captured and no flaw within note-playing can be heard.
In conclusion, The Avenger has a raw, unfettered feel yet still offers palpable melody. Generously distorted guitars will give you both chills and thrills (Can’t remember the last time I said that). Catchy harmonies combined with steady drumming serve as an example for aspiring bands of this style. Although the style is plainly clear, the diversity of tempos this album boasts impresses me. You’ll get head-bangers like “Bleed for Ancient Gods” and “Metalwrath,” but also slower, groovy parts like “The Avenger” and “Legend of A Banished Man.” All the instrumentation is solid to say the least and the uniquely coarse vocals of Johan Hegg are slaughtering. His organic delivery is dare I say impossible to replicate.
Whether you’re a Viking enthusiast or just looking to raise your adrenaline, this album is for you. The Avenger was, and still is, a very tenacious piece of work. Released ten years ago, the production isn’t crystal clear (this isn’t a re-recording). But I think whatever roughness the sound has gives the album character.
HAIL ODIN!!!