Berserker - Amon Amarth

Review by Kyla Scrivener for Everblack Media

Released May 3rd of 2019 Berserkers were known for being some of the most brutal warriors in history. Tales tell of them being so enthralled by fury, that their trance like states would allow them to enter battle bare-chested with only a wolf or bear skin instead of traditional armour. They were a class of Viking warrior feared by all due to their incredible weapon skills, supernatural reflexes and their ability to utterly destroy everything and everyone in sight. With such a brutal subject to concept an album around, Amon Amarth’s 11th studio album Berserker, gave me heavy and high expectations.

Working for the first time on an album with producer Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Stone Sour and countless others), Berserker brings with it a fresh faced aggression that I found was not so prominent in the previous album, Jomsviking (2016). Where Jomsviking was more on the side of melodic Viking metal in its overall sound and spoken word, Berserker has pushed the band back into heavier territory that is familiar for early fans of these Swedish Melodic Death Metal titans. Packed with galloping riffs of primal war music, atmospherically Amon Amarth have the ability to tap into the innate side of raging masculinity where the heart of a warrior lies when called to battle. This album did not disappoint in hitting that mark.

Melodic opener and first title track, Fafner’s Gold takes us on an acoustic folk journey that transitions quickly into heavy riffs that create a ground zero for the familiar Amon Amarth sound. Hitting you with savage drum blasts and rasping guttural cries of brutality, we are thrown back into the battlefield with a taste of epic things to come. The progression from Fafner’s Gold through to the next three songs on the album is absolute pure Amon Amarth savagery.

The second single released, Crack the Sky, followed by Mjolner Hammer of Thor and Shield Wall fill all of the heavier aspects of Amon Amarth that I personally come to expect from these heavy weight giants. The sounds of striking anvil’s and hammers being forged, NWOBHM style  guitar solo’s and a brilliantly balanced production with a great wall of sound, the first four songs are filled with a fury and rage that really display their death metal core. An honourable mention must also be made to the tenth song Skoll & Hati which keeps this tempo firing towards the end of the album with great pace and the best guitar solo out of the lot. You can really appreciate the production side of Berserker, especially in Mjolner Hammer of Thor where there are a plethora of musical layers happening but no one is lost in the saturation of sound. You can definitely see why there are so many links between Amon Amarth being called the new Iron Maiden after listening to these first few gems.

The first single Raven’s Flight is the war cry of the album and will be incredible to see in a stadium setting. With lyrical content like “We stare at death with crimson grins”, the tone is set for terror and madness to ensue. You really can envision a mass of Vikings chanting this number as they storm the walls of Northumberland.  Almost power metal in riffs, nu metal style break downs and death metal growls, this piece was a great choice for a first single and is by far one of their most catchy songs to date.

The Berserker at Stamford Bridge is the climax of the concept and storytelling on this album and is where we get a real understanding of these demigod like warriors. Sound wise this is where the tempo and tone are slowed down out a little, with the musicianship playing more into an atmospheric setting for the storytelling to take centre stage. It’s where we learn about one of the last battles between the Vikings and the Englishmen in 1066. The Vikings had been pushed back onto the Stamford Bridge where they left one berserker to defend. Historical details from the English records of this battle say that the Beserker held the English line on his own and killed over 70 Englishmen. The only way the English could finally kill him was by going under the bridge and impaling him with tall spears. As a historical and mythological fan, I thoroughly enjoy Amon Amarth’s ability to resurrect these incredible bestial moments in history by painting a scene of bloodshed on a fret board.

A wild card on the album, and probably my top pick from Beserker is the final song Into the Dark. Juxtaposed against the higher toned guitars and melodies throughout the album, Into the Dark takes a different turn. Everything is tuned down and sounds much darker and deeper than previous material which got me really excited at how aphotic they can sound. Centred around the construct of Loki’s eternal battle with his own demons and evil doing, Into the Dark is philosophical in its substance, melodic and grim in it’s sound and plunges us into hell’s abyss. Reminiscent of the journey through Dante’s Inferno, I hope this piece lays the foundation for their next studio material both concept and sound wise as they can manifest the dark in their work so well.

What I appreciate most about this album is your ability to listen from beginning to end seamlessly.  Each song builds into the next, makes sense and flows together like a tapestry of Viking metal history. Overall it is a really strong album that still sounds like Amon Amarth but is fresh and brutal in its modern delivery. Being able to still create music that is not rehashed and to keep coming up with new and relevant material really speaks for their transcendence not just as musicians but as story tellers. Amon Amarth have a sorcerous ability to bring these incredible characters lost in history back to life and fill the listener with an unbridled aggression and adrenalin from times since lost.  I think this album will impress the large demographic of fans that Amon Amarth have amassed on both sides of the Viking Metal and Melodic Death Metal worlds. I believe Berserker will translate incredibly well live and electrify crowds into a frenzy that would make for some fantastic live DVD content. Do yourself a favour and before you pick up those barbells at gym today, throw on this bad boy on to get you going.

Everblack Media Metal Goods > https://www.everblack.com.au/

Amon Amarth Goods > https://www.amonamarth.com/

Mjolner Hammer of Thor > https://youtu.be/MKNMMRI57yU?si=hvtueZLDJIbxNv-C

Crack The Skye > https://youtu.be/Dhfy9TPga-c?si=Yd8kEfVU8WjFh6KA 

Raven's Flight > https://youtu.be/H24S0nym-pE?si=95teQzu-1KfMNkQN