Swedish metal legends AMON AMARTH have unleashed their new single “Eight Legs of Thunder,” the final preview of their forthcoming album, The Allfather Awakens, due October 2 via Metal Blade Records.
Inspired by Sleipnir, the legendary eight-legged steed of Oden, “Eight Legs of Thunder” charges forward on a galloping main riff and massive sing-along chorus, once again drawing from the Norse mythology that has long fueled AMON AMARTH’s music.
The accompanying music video takes the mythology somewhere considerably less expected. Rather than recreating the tale in an ancient Norse setting, the band transports it into a gritty modern American Western populated by cowboys, pickup trucks, dusty roads, and a surreal appearance from Sleipnir himself.
Director Dariusz Szermanowicz comments:
“With ‘Eight Legs Of Thunder’, together with the band, we wanted to break the traditional metal music video mold once again. We fused the raw, dusty vibe of a modern western with the epic, dark mythology of Oden’s eight-legged steed. It’s a high-octane, cinematic ride packed with cowboy tension, raw action, and a touch of dark humor. We didn’t just want to make a music video—we wanted to deliver a visual knockout.”
“Eight Legs of Thunder” follows previously released singles “Gjallarhorn” and “Upphaf,” the latter marking AMON AMARTH’s first-ever acoustic excursion. Together, the tracks showcase different sides of the band’s upcoming ten-song record, from stripped-back storytelling to the colossal melodic death metal attack synonymous with their three-decade career.
While Oden once again serves as a central source of inspiration throughout the album’s lyrics and artwork, The Allfather Awakens is not a concept record. Instead, the album presents a collection of historically inspired tales centered around conflict, sacrifice, and fighting for a greater good.
AMON AMARTH also took a different approach to writing and recording the album. Rather than waiting until they were off the road, the band began composing new material while touring. Recording then took place across two sessions, separated by several months, at producer Jacob Hansen’s studio in Denmark.
The process allowed the musicians to concentrate intensely on individual songs, approaching each track as though it were a standalone single. Sonically, the guitars also move toward a somewhat less modern sound, with the band stepping away from 5150 amplifiers in favor of Marshalls.
The Allfather Awakens also introduces musical ideas previously unexplored by AMON AMARTH while retaining the towering riffs, melodies, and battle-ready atmosphere that have become hallmarks of the band.
This fall, the album will make its way to the stage as AMON AMARTH launch an extensive UK and European tour featuring an entirely new production inspired by Oden’s legendary Golden Hall.
The Allfather Awakens Tracklist
- “Gjallarhorn”
- “Eight Legs of Thunder”
- “Kvasir’s Blood”
- “We Rule the Waves”
- “Upphaf”
- “Die With a War Cry”
- “Raven God”
- “The Allfather Awakes”
- “Oden’s Hunt”
- “Ascending Like an Eagle”
AMON AMARTH lineup
Johan Hegg – Vocals
Olavi Mikkonen – Guitar
Johan Söderberg – Guitar
Ted Lundström – Bass
Jocke Wallgren – Drums
The Allfather Awakens arrives October 2 via Metal Blade Records