Amon Amarth - Once Sent from the Golden Hall
MetalBlade Records
Melodic Death Metal
8 songs (44'46")
Release year: 1998
Amon Amarth, MetalBlade Records
Reviewed by Alex
Archive review

When you are feeling down there are two choices. You could either continue wallowing in your sorrow or you could snap out of it. If the latter appeals to you, Amon Amarth plays a perfect brand of music to provide you with all encompassing empowerment. Or to put it bluntly, grab a hold of this and you will immediately feel like you are ready to kick some serious ass!

Once Sent from the Golden Hall is their first full length album (after a demo and an EP). What a way to make a statement! Amon Amarth does not contend for the title of the fastest or the most technical death metal band around. I even read an interview with main songwriter and guitarist Olavi Mikkonen where he said that a 12-year old may learn how to play Amon Amarth’s riffs. Instead, the listener is exposed to honest, emotion packed, intense and extremely catchy melodic death metal. The songs roll downhill picking up steam in the process and crashing everything in their path. Sometimes they appear out of nowhere with the slow sound build up ( The Dragons’ Flight Across the Waves ), and sometimes they hit you over the head from the first chord ( Ride for Vengeance ). Relentless riffing alternates with undeniably melodic sweeping guitar harmonies and leads. Bottom end of the rhythm section creates the “wall of sound” effect – something you can always count on with The Abyss Studio production.

Amon Amarth are staunch followers of their Scandinavian Pagan heritage, so they have no love lost for Christianity. The lyrics are filled with descriptions of Vikings triumphing over the supporters of the Single God. Vocal delivery by Johan Hegg fits the bill perfectly. In my mind, this is exactly like defiant bloodthirsty Vikings sounded. Two brutal vocal styles are used. One is more screamy and rambunctious, while the other is lower in tone and manlier than thou.

If you need to pick out just one track from the album settle on Victorious March . The song could not have been named better. Awesome intro which transitions into a killer monumental main riff, march-like rhythm and ultimately triumphant melody. Blasting this over the enemy trenches would demoralize them to no end. All Hail mighty Amon Amarth !

Killing Songs :
All, but Victorious March really slays
Alex quoted 91 / 100
Crims quoted 96 / 100
Other albums by Amon Amarth that we have reviewed:
Amon Amarth - Jomsviking reviewed by Andy and quoted 84 / 100
Amon Amarth - Deceiver of the Gods reviewed by Jared and quoted 90 / 100
Amon Amarth - Surtur Rising reviewed by Kyle and quoted 82 / 100
Amon Amarth - The Avenger reviewed by Thomas and quoted 77 / 100
Amon Amarth - Twilight Of The Thunder God reviewed by Storm and quoted 96 / 100
To see all 10 reviews click here
15 readers voted
Average:
 91
Your quote was: 100.
Change your vote

There are no replies yet to this review
Be the first one to post a reply!