Academy, BirminghamOver heavy riffs and double kick drums, the folklore-obsessed Swedish band deliver a thundering theatrical spectacle
Vikings are invading again, although this time they arrive in a tour bus, not in longships. Sweden’s Amon Amarth (an Elvish name for Mount Doom, courtesy of JRR Tolkien) have been crafting Viking-themed metal since 1992, but after 11 albums they can fill good-sized venues such as this one. Their songs deliver tales of Viking folklore, wars, wolves, Norse gods and berserkers (elite Viking warriors who wore animal pelts, not armour) over a soundtrack of brutal but melodic and passionate death metal. Drummer Jocke Wallgren sits atop an enormous horned helmet.
With their long hair, thick beards, tattoos and leather accessories, the quintet cannot be accused of not looking the part. Vocalist Johan Hegg – a sort of gravel-voiced, metal Grizzly Adams – has a drinking horn attached to his belt and would make a convincing exhibit in Jorvik, York’s Viking museum. “Are you ready to do battle with me?” he roars.