#31: Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising

In 2008, I named Twilight of the Thunder God Album Of The Year. So naturally I had high hopes for this year's Surtur Rising (Metal Blade).  Initially, my hopes were dashed upon the stones of a cold, Scandinavian shore. There was nothing that stood out to me. I wasn't hearing an album-to-album progression. I feared the longships were moored in port, never to sail again. But I raised my banners and pressed on. What I discovered was an album that conquered and pillaged as savagely as its predecessor.  If a battle plan works, why change it? Through ten tracks, the Swedes continue to incite a blood lust with their powerful and melodic riffs. They are like virus that starts in the brain but soon infects the whole body. It makes a craven feel like a hero. An urge to don a longsword and march into battle rises as Johan Hegg growls the tales from Viking days of yore. They may not be conquering new lands but Amon Amarth holds firm dominion over the territory they rule. Any and all challengers to the crown are easily slain by their might. Crack open a cask of mead and raise your drinking horns! Rejoice in Surtur Rising!

www.twitter.com/MetalMatt_KofN

Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising

You won't have to look hard to find dozens of reviews of this album. Amon Amarth get plenty of press. I'm not going to go on and on and tell you a bunch of stuff you already know. So I will briefly summate my disappointment.

2008's Twilight of the Thunder God topped my Best Of List that year. I now believe that was at least partially due to novelty. As my musical horizons widened, I was discovering many new subgenres of metal. TOTTG was my introduction to "viking metal". It was new and exciting and I got swept off my feet. Naturally, I had high expectations for Surtur Rising.  Sadly, those expectations were not met. I can't say it's a bad album though. It's actually quite epic sounding. It's everything a viking metal album should be. The problem is, so was their last one. The novelty has worn off for me.  I don't expect a band to re-invent themselves every album but in a blind listening test, I'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between the two albums (with obvious exceptions). They taste the same. With some of my favourite bands, each album has a different flavour. I've only listened to it 4-5 times so far so maybe something will grab me yet but most of the time I don't have to wait this long. I've already heard maybe a half dozen albums from 2011 that I like better. So unless I "get it" soon, it could be lost to the winds of time. Or at least become irrelevant.

N.B. Since this original post, I've listened to it a few more times. It gets better every time but it's still not making the impact Twilight of the Thunder God did.