Amon Amarth

For the Middle-Earth location commonly known as "Mount Doom", see Orodruin. Amon Amarth
Amon Amarth at the With Full Forcefestival Background information Origin Tumba, Sweden Genre(s)Melodic death metal
Viking metalYears active 1992–present Label(s)Metal BladeAssociated acts Eternal Oath
OpethWebsite www.amonamarth.comMembers Fredrik Andersson
Johan Hegg
Johan Söderberg
Olavi Mikkonen
Ted LundströmFormer members Anders Hansson
Nico Mehra
Martin Lopez

Amon Amarth is a Viking-themed melodic death metal band from Tumba, Sweden founded in 1992.[1] It is named after a location in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. The name means "Mount Doom" in Sindarin, one of Tolkien's Elvish languages. The band was originally known as Scum, and released a single demo under that name in 1988 before changing their name to Amon Amarth in 1992.

1 History
2 Discography
3 Members
- 3.1 Current members
- 3.2 Former Members
4 References
5 External links

History

The five Swedish musicians, who are known for their synchronised headbanging in music videos and at live performances, base most of their songs on Norse mythology. This mythology is an element that originally emerged as an ideological off-shoot of black metal known as Viking metal in the early 1990s, made popular by such bands as Bathory and Enslaved, although the band's sound is more in the vein of early Amorphis and mid-period Bolt Thrower. Lead singer Johan Hegg's sister sometimes contributes lyrics.

Formed under the name Scum in 1988, the band was originally a grindcore group formed by Themgoroth (Dark Funeral), Olavi and Ted. When Johan joined the band, it resulted in a musical change towards death metal. After a 1991 demo, they changed the band's name to Amon Amarth in 1992. After they became Amon Amarth, they released a demo recording, The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter, in 1994, selling all 1000 demo discs in less than 12 hours.[citation needed] This demo brought them to sign at Pulverised Records, on which they released in 1996 their first MCD Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds, from which they sold 6000 copies (spread throughout four different versions)[2]. This release brought them to sign with Metal Blade Records. With the release of the album Once Sent from the Golden Hall in 1998, their popularity rose internationally and since has meant multiple Canadian tours, US tours, festival appearances, five music videos, and appearances in over 100 metal magazines.[3] In early January, 2008, their first tour of Australia and New Zealand will take place, along with supporting Dimmu Borgir on tour in Europe. They have recently finished a US and Canadian tour with Sonic Syndicate and Himsa. Decapitated was scheduled to appear on tour with Amon Amarth but canceled when their drummer, Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka, passed away on November 2nd in a Russian hospital due to injuries he sustained from a recent road collision. The group has gradually gained further exposure including Richard Christy on The Howard Stern Show mentioning his attendance at one of their concerts.

The February 2008 edition of Terrorizer magazine confirmed that the band is working on a new album due for a late summer release.[citation needed] Amon Amarth also extended their record deal with Metal Blade Records for three more albums.[4]

When commenting on the name of the band, vocalist Johan Hegg has remarked:

“ ...it was Ted who found the name. Don't ask me how cause none of us were ever really Lord of the Ring fans but it sounded cool and the meaning of it is killer! It's the name of "Mount Doom" in Sindarin, whatever that is, ask a Tolkien fan. But I think it's cool and really symbolizes what Amon Amarth stands for. „

—The Metal Web's interview with Johan Hegg

When asked to comment on the band's genre, vocalist Johan Hegg also remarked:

“ We play death metal. We write about vikings so therefore some refer us to viking metal, but I have no idea what that is. I can't imagine the viking’s [sic] veer into metal at all except on the swords and stuff. And musically, I guess they only played these strange lip instruments and some bongos or whatever. „

—The Metal Web's interview with Johan Hegg

Discography

Albums

Released Title Label 1991 Demo 1 Self-released as Scum 1993 Thor AriseNever released 1994 The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter Self-released, see below 1996 Sorrow Throughout the Nine WorldsPulverised 1998 Once Sent from the Golden Hall Metal Blade1999 The AvengerMetal Blade 2001 The CrusherMetal Blade 2002 Versus the WorldMetal Blade 2004 Fate of NornsMetal Blade 2006 With Oden on Our SideMetal Blade 2008 Amon Amarth's seventh studio album(entered studio May 1) Metal Blade

The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter

The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter is a demo self-released in 1994. Its original release was limited and consisted of 1000 copies.[5] The demo was released on three different colour tapes with different styles. The "labels" for the demo aren't professionally-made, and were created by the band for the release of the demo.

Track listing

"Burning Creation" − 4:48
"The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter" − 4:38
"Without Fear" − 4:42

Credits

Nico Mehra − drums
Olavi Mikkonen − guitars
Johan Hegg − vocals
Anders Hannson − guitars
Ted Lundström − bass

Videography

Aestheticom, a music video production company, was chosen to produce videos for "Runes to My Memory" and "Cry of the Black Birds", both directed by Bill Schacht.

Released Title Producer 2003 Death in Fire 2004 The Pursuit of Vikings 2006 Wrath of the Norsemen2006 Runes to My Memory 2007 Cry of the Black Birds

Members

Amon Amarth on Metalmania Festival 2005 in Poland

Current members

Johan Hegg − vocals
Johan Söderberg − guitars
Olavi Mikkonen − guitars
Ted Lundström − bass guitar
Fredrik Andersson − drums

Former Members

As Amon Amarth:

Anders Hansson − guitars (Thor Arise - Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds - Once Sent from the Golden Hall)
Nico Kaukinen − drums (Thor Arise - Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds)
Martin Lopez − drums

As Scum: