Swedish melodic death metal band AMON AMARTH have announced their thirteenth studio album, The Allfather Awakens, set for release on October 2 via Metal Blade Records. Alongside the announcement, the band has unveiled the album’s opening track, “Gjallarhorn,” accompanied by an official music video.
Rather than serving as a concept album, The Allfather Awakens presents ten historically inspired tales centered on conflict, sacrifice, and the pursuit of wisdom, with the Norse god Oden once again providing the thematic thread connecting the album’s lyrics and artwork.
Following the band’s first-ever acoustic release, “Upphaf,” the new single “Gjallarhorn” returns AMON AMARTH to their signature blend of soaring melodies, driving riffs, and thunderous energy. Built around an upbeat guitar hook, rapid tempo, and anthemic chorus, the track draws inspiration from the Norse myth in which Oden sacrifices one of his eyes at Mímisbrunnr, the Well of Wisdom, in exchange for knowledge that shapes the fate of gods and men.
For The Allfather Awakens, the band adopted a different creative process than on previous releases. Instead of completing the songwriting before entering the studio, the material was written while touring and recorded across two separate sessions at producer Jacob Hansen’s studio in Denmark. The first recordings began in spring 2025, with the album completed in March 2026.
Guitarist Olavi Mikkonen explained the band’s approach:
“We worked on one song at a time and made each song as good as possible. Then we recorded one song at a time until each track was totally finished—drums, guitars, and vocals. Only then did we start on the next one.”
The band also opted for a more traditional guitar tone on the new record, moving away from their previous reliance on 5150 amplifiers in favor of classic Marshall amplifiers.
The album’s title track was the final song written and inspired the record’s name, while other songs such as “Eight Legs of Thunder,” “Kvasir’s Blood,” and “Die With a War Cry” continue AMON AMARTH’s exploration of Norse history and mythology. The album artwork was created by longtime collaborator Tom Thiel, who has now illustrated seven of the band’s album covers.
The Allfather Awakens Track Listing
- Gjallarhorn
- The Allfather Awakens
- Eight Legs of Thunder
- Kvasir’s Blood
- Die With a War Cry
- We Rule The Waves
- The Last Berserker
- Beyond the Golden Hall
- Ashes of the Fallen
- The Final Oath
Pre-oder The Allfather Awakens
More than three decades after forming in Tumba, Sweden, AMON AMARTH continue to stand among the most influential bands in modern metal. Since their 1992 beginnings, the group has shared stages with Slayer, Iron Maiden, Slipknot, and Pantera, headlined major festivals including Wacken Open Air and Bloodstock, and helped popularize the now-iconic “Viking Row,” a fan tradition that originated during the band’s live performances.
To support The Allfather Awakens, AMON AMARTH will debut an all-new live production inspired by Oden’s legendary Golden Hall during their upcoming U.K. and European tour, bringing the album’s mythology to life on stage.