A View From The Back Of The Room: Amon Amarth

Amon Amarth, Orbit Culture & Soilwork, Eventim Apollo, London, 10.10.26



Evetim Apollo,also known as the Hammersmith Apollo or back then the Hammersmith Odeon, a venue most known for its music and comedy performances notably also used for Motorhead's live album No Sleep Till Hammersmith. Tonight though it's the London stop for the Allfather Awakens tour named after their new album. Bringing fellow Swedish bands Soilwork and Orbit Culture, with them, 

Soilwork (5) kick things off you hear the sounds of a music box as a baby would hear while resting in their cradle, then the band approaches the stage, shouts hello to London audience gets them to raise there fists and cheer before even the first song starts. 

A few songs later, blood red light shines on the front set of the audience, playing a few more hits here and there while keeping the audience in communication, a good fair opening act for the gigs London show. 

Next up Orbit Culture (9) relentlessly with their non stop touring over the world and also a year in for their last album Death Above Life. Fast raw and of course the savage vocalisation gives a very powerful performance.

You can see why Amon Amarth picked them, aura, pure, raw, aura and their songs? Well they're pure Orbit Culture. You can tell which element, sub genre it leans to each song examples Tales Of War and Hydra sounds like it came fresh from the doom game soundtrack. 

Alienated has got that black metal nostalgia like you hear from behemoth and of course Red Fog is full of thrash, all these lovely mixes from this one band playing hopefully on headline UK tours in the future.

Now even if you're not into Viking history/culture/mythology or theatrics, but you like their music that's absolutely fine, but if you enjoy all of that just mentioned then you're in for a treat when Amon Amarth (10)

When the band does a headline performance obviously they go in full Berserker for visual spectacle full of display models, moving pictures, renactors, even the Norse trickster god Loki himself. 

An introduction backing track which is course Iron Maiden's Run To The Hills, yes of course they're gonna play, Raise Your Horns, Shield Wall, Guardians Of Asgard, as well as stuff from the Great Heathen Army album.

However with new album the Allfather Awakens, comes new songs such as the title track, Eight Legs Of Thunder and of course We Rule The Waves. Jonah passionately calls the audience fellow Vikings and a enjoyable campfire acoustic set of Upphaf which was so ambient and soothing a nice calm break from all the headbanging. 

Hammersmith was blessed by the gods cause a song they don't play live much Saxons And Viking with Biff from Saxon on the video screen singing his part of the song.

Finishing up with their hammer hitting hit (literally) Twilight Of The Thundergods and as the hammer goes down, the stage goes boom and the music roars like cracks of thunder. 

In the smoke and light Amon Amarth show thankfulness and gratitude towards the fans which is strongly reciprocated by the London audience.