AMON AMARTH: First Of Three-Part Mini Documentary Posted

As previously announced,  today AMON AMARTH  unveils the first of their  special three-part mini  documentary titled Forging  Mjölnir. Filmed and directed  by Luke Daley  (http://makezure.com), the  up-close-and-personal clip  -- which includes stunning  black and white nature  footage and Norse artwork --  celebrates the imminent  release of the band's ninth  studio offering,  Deceiver of the Gods. Watch the six-and-a-half minute segment  where vocalist Johan Hegg and bassist Ted Lundström elaborate on the  mythological themes found within their latest epic via the band's microsite  at http://deceiver.amonamarth.com. Not many bands can claim their ninth album as the most powerful,  dynamic, and plainly aggressive of their career, but then AMON AMARTH  have consistently upped their game with every successive release.  Having exploded onto the Swedish melodic death metal scene with 1998's  Once Sent from the Golden Hall, every album has arrived bursting at the  seams with power, melody and immersive storytelling centered around the  richness of Norse mythology. Deceiver of the Gods captures the quintet at  the peak of their powers. "Every time we start working on new music we  begin with the idea that we're going to write the best album ever," Hegg  states. "We knew we wanted a more aggressive, live feeling to this record  but there's no formula behind what we do. We just try to write something  that takes us a step further than the last record, and is something that will  excite us and our fans. Deceiver Of The Gods is the result." For proof, sample fourth track, "Shape Shifter" now  streaming via Stereogum HERE. Deceiver of the Gods was recorded at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire,  UK, and produced, mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap  Opeth, Megadeth, Exodus, Arch Enemy, Killswitch Engage).  The follow-up to the band's critically adored 2011 Surtur Rising  full-length offers up ten maniacally heavy battle hymns rife with the  band's absorbing harmonies and Hegg's commanding Viking roar.  Deceiver of the Gods comes adorned with another outstanding  Tom Thiel-created cover portraying a mythical battle between  the Norse Gods Loki and Thor. As an added bonus,  Messiah Marcolin (Candlemass) makes an appearance as  guest vocalist on eighth track, "Hel." For special Deceiver of the Gods preorder packages as well as  a stream of the title track,  go to this location: http://www.metalblade.com/amonamarth.  Deceiver of the Gods will be released in North America  via Metal Blade Records June 25th, in Europe  June 21st/24th and Japan on June 26th. Following a run of European festival dates next month,  AMON AMARTH will be opening the main stage of this  year's edition of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Fest  set to commence June 29 in San Bernardino. See confirmed dates below. AMON AMARTH Summer 2013 European Festival Tour: 06/01 Forta Rock Festival – Nijmegen, NL 06/06 Sweden Rock Festival – Solvesborg, SE 06/07 Rock Am Ring – Nurburgring, DE 06/08 Sonisphere – Sonisphere, FR 06/09 Rock Im Park – Nurenberg, DE 06/11 MeetFactory – Prauge, CZ 06/12 Eter Club – Wroclaw, PL 06/14 Copenhell – Copenhagen, DK 06/15 Noval Rock – Nickelsdorf, AT 06/16 Download Festival – Donington, UK 06/21 Nummirock – Nummijarvi, FI AMON AMARTH Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Fest 2013: 06/29 San Manuel Amphitheater – San Bernardino, CA 06/30 Shoreline Amphitheatre – Mountain View, CA 07/02 Idaho Center Amphitheatre – Nampa, ID 07/03 White River Amphitheatre – Auburn, WA 07/05 Desert Sky Pavilion – Phoenix, AZ 07/06 Isleta Amphitheatre – Albuquerque, NM 07/07 Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre – Englewood, CO 07/09 The Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI       w/ Children of Bodom, Job for a Cowboy, Battlecross, Huntress 07/10 Molson Canadian Amphitheatre – Toronto, ON 07/12 First Niagara Pavilion – Burgettstown, PA 07/13 Toyota Pavilion – Scranton, PA 07/14 Darien Lake Performing Arts Center – Darien Center, NY 07/16 Comcast Center – Mansfield, MA 07/17 Bangor Waterfront – Bangor, ME 07/19 Susquehanna Bank Center – Camden, NJ 07/20 Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs, NY 07/21 The Comcast Theatre – Hartford, CT 07/23 PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ 07/24 Jiffy Lube Live – Bristow, VA 07/26 Klipsch Music Center – Noblesville, IN 07/27 First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre – Tinley Park, IL 07/28 DTE Energy Music Theatre – Clarkston, MI 07/29 Expo Five – Louisville, KY     w/ Children of Bodom, Behemoth, Emmure, Motionless In White,      Born of Osiris, Job for a Cowboy, Battlecross, Huntress 07/30 Lakewood Amphitheatre – Atlanta, GA 07/31 Live Nation Amphitheatre – Tampa, FL 08/02 Austin 360 Amphitheatre – Austin, TX 08/03 Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion – The Woodlands, TX 08/04 Gexa Energy Pavilion – Dallas, TX 08/05 Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre – Kansas City, MO  w/ Rob Zombie, Machine Head, Children Of Bodom 08/07 Pop's – Sauget, IL w/ Children of Bodom, Battlecross, Huntress 08/08 Marathon Music Works – Nashville, TN  w/ Children of Bodom, Battlecross, Huntress 08/09 Peabody's – Cleveland, OH  w/ Children of Bodom, Battlecross, Huntress 08/11 Heavy MTL Festival – Montreal, QC http://www.amonamarth.com http://www.facebook.com/OfficialAmonAmarth http://twitter.com/amonamarthband http://deceiver.amonamarth.com

Review - Saxon's "Sacrifice"

As another winter storm is threatening to bear down I decided today was a damn good day to finally have a listen to the advance copy of Saxon's latest release "Sacrifice". So I loaded the disc into what I consider to be the best place to currently listen to my metal, the very high powered stereo in my very high powered Charger.

Two minutes into the disc and I could't care less if a blizzard was coming, this was Saxon in all their full potential. This is the culmination of what they started back with "Unleash The Beast". With "Sacrifice" the beast has been bloody well released and it's good. In full disclosure I do admit that I have been an ardent Saxon fan since I first picked up "Wheels of Steel" from an import bin in 1980. However I think this release bears out y faith in this band.

In true metal fashion we are looking at 10 tracks (11 if you buy it from iTunes). I can't really call track 1 "Procession" a proper track though. It's just an intro and one that to me anyways seems a bit unrelated to the rest of the disc. No matter the real metal begins on track 2, the title track "Sacrifice". Heavy, fast with riffage aplenty, this is what I want from a title track from Saxon. Biff makes his presence known 15 seconds in and his voice is still as strong as ever. In fact he sounds stronger. I don't know if this is just the further legend of Biff Byford or perhaps a bit of the magic that Andy Sneap brings to all that he touches.

 "Made in Belfast" follows next. A good mid tempo tune with an historical basis. A classic bit of the Saxon legacy. This time Biff sings about the giant Belfast shipyards that birthed the likes of the Titanic. There are two things that really up the ante on this one. First some solid bass by Nibbs and second how they wove Celtic themed lines through the heavy riffs. This one brought me right back to "Princess of The Night" but with so much more heaviness. In fact I would agree with Biff's assertion that this is the heaviest Saxon release yet.

"Wheels of Steel" has often been mistaken for a car song but track 4 "Warriors of the Road" is indeed dedicated to the thrill of speed. After the mid tempo break of the prior track this one is fittingly fast and driving. Nice solo on this one too although it would have cooler if it had gone just a bit longer. Fortunately we get some nice bits of solo in fills as the song rides out.

Track 5 brings us back another historical song. "Guardians of The Tomb". This time Biff sings about the terra cotta army that was buried with Qin Shi Huang the first emperor of China. This one sounds quite a bit like Powerslave era Iron Maiden. Of course Maiden is another band known for historical themes. In this case it's the some of the harmony riffs that give it that Maidenesque element. That's not a bad thing at all. This should go down a storm live especially the great solo break. 

"Stand Up and Fight" follows. Once again in homage to great songs like "And the Bands Played On" this one is about following your passion for music and slogging through no matter what. Another classic in the making. I wish the booklet provided with the press copy let you know who did which solos. The one on this track is exceptional.

If you get the idea that this disc may be THE must have for 2013 then you are getting the message. When's the last time I did a complete track by track breakdown?

Next up is more historical song writing. The slow driving "Walking The Steel". The subject this time is the rebirth of the Twin Towers. The lyrics are pretty damn inspirational. More so since it's not a song you would expect from the quintessential British band. Having said that this is the second time they have done that. The first was Dallas 1 PM. What's even more eerie is that the guitar break that comes in at around the two minute mark on this one harken back to the break in that classic track.

Times to speed things up again, "Night of the Wolf" starts the path back to a faster pace. This disc has really been nicely sequenced. Something that's not always the case in this time of single song downloads. So this one has that faster element but it has slower parts as well. Nigel's drums sound crisp on this one. I've always been a fan of Nigel's drumming but I think the Sneap touch has made it that much better. It would have been way to easy for a lesser producer to make the drums on this tracks thunderous. Which would have ultimately destroyed the balance of the song.

Next up "Wheels of Terror". I swear I hear a bit of flanger on this one. Nonetheless we are now back to full heavy. Heads will be banging to this one. Classic metal replete with China Boy cymbal accents. Guitars are solid and driving and sound fantastic. They have really embodied the character of the battle tanks that the songs is written about including the "battle" that is alluded to by the solo.

And sadly we arrive at the last track. This one a bit of classic English cheek with "Standing In a Queue". We all hate standing in lines but none more than our English brothers. Queues have long been part of English humor. The lyrics are great and the music is pure Saxon.

So there ya have it Saxon's "Sacrifice". Of course if ya pony up for the deluxe version you get another disc with 5 classic Saxon pieces either rerecorded or done acoustically orchestrally. 

I was thoroughly happy with "Call to Arms" but "Sacrifice" is just head and shoulders above it in terms of sonic delivery and classic songs. It's truly amazing that this far into their career that Saxon can still write such solid material. With the small exception of the intro track there's no filler on this release. I say buy it and play it LOUD again and again and again.

Now I just have to wait until my copy of the deluxe edition rolls in so I can delve into all the minutiae of the liner notes.

If you want a taste of what's in store. Check out this bit of video.

You can order up any of the different versions of this killer release by visiting the UDR Shop online