Swedish metal band AMON AMARTH have released their thirteenth studio album, The Allfather Awakens, today via Metal Blade Records. Coinciding with the album’s arrival, the band have also shared a visualizer for the focus track “The Allfather Awakes.”
The ten-track The Allfather Awakens continues AMON AMARTH’s exploration of Norse history and mythology while expanding their familiar melodic death metal sound. Oden — the Norse god associated with war, wisdom, death, magic and poetry — once again serves as a central inspiration for the record’s lyrics and artwork.
Rather than functioning as a traditional concept album, The Allfather Awakens presents a collection of historically and mythologically inspired stories centered around conflict, sacrifice, knowledge and the pursuit of a greater good.
“The Allfather Awakes” captures one of the record’s central ideas, drawing upon the story of Oden sacrificing an eye at Mímisbrunnr, the Well of Wisdom, in exchange for greater knowledge and foresight.
“Wisdom, knowledge and facts need to become the guide for the future,” frontman and lyricist Johan Hegg says of the song’s message.
The album also finds AMON AMARTH venturing into previously unexplored territory. “Upphaf” marks the band’s first acoustic excursion, while previously released tracks “Gjallarhorn,” “Eight Legs of Thunder” and “We Rule The Waves” showcase the heavier side of the record.
The Allfather Awakens was created during two recording sessions at producer Jacob Hansen’s studio in Denmark. Instead of waiting until touring concluded to begin the writing process, AMON AMARTH developed material while on the road, allowing the band to approach each individual song with a more focused mindset.
The group also altered its guitar approach for the record, stepping away from the more modern sound of 5150 amplifiers and returning to Marshall amps. Instrumental arrangements were completed before the lyrics, allowing the music to establish the atmosphere and direction of each song.
With the album now released, AMON AMARTH will take The Allfather Awakens on the road beginning next week with a headlining run across the U.K. and Europe. The upcoming shows will introduce an entirely new stage production inspired by Oden’s legendary Golden Hall, extending the visual world of the album into the band’s live performance.
The U.K. leg begins October 9 in Manchester before stops in London and Wolverhampton. The band will then continue throughout Europe, with shows scheduled across France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Hungary, Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal.
Formed in Tumba, Sweden in 1992, AMON AMARTH have spent more than three decades building their combination of melodic death metal and Viking-inspired imagery. Their career has taken them around the world alongside acts including Slayer, Iron Maiden, Slipknot and Pantera, while the band have also headlined major festivals and venues across North America and Europe.
The Allfather Awakens is out now via Metal Blade Records.
AMON AMARTH lineup
Johan Hegg – Vocals
Olavi Mikkonen – Guitar
Johan Söderberg – Guitar
Ted Lundström – Bass
Jocke Wallgren – Drums