Customer Reviews

Versus the World

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Amon Amarth takes a different approach to war metal musical creations with "Versus The World" than with previous efforts by using a slightly slower, harder yet doomier style vaguely reminiscent of Bolt Thrower. Despite the fact that their aural attack this time around is not quite as aggressive in terms of all out speed, with the exception of maybe "For The Stabwounds In Our Backs", this is by far my personal favorite of Amon Amarth's albums because everything seems to truly come together on this album. Not only is the concept great (uniting the Norse peoples for a return to power and worldwide coup while, of course, crushing all enemies in the process), but the vocals and all instruments sound as though they've reached their peak. The band's performance is flawless, and the wonderful production on this disc displays this fact beautifully.

On top of all this, the songwriting is superb containing many catchy riffs such as those in "Death in Fire" and "Bloodshed". Also, this is perhaps the most inspiring of all Amon Amarth's discs in terms of a more straightforward delivery and emotional effort. With each listen you'll want to join the fictional Norse characters on the battlefied slaying your enemies and reveling in bloody victory while being cherished by the grand Asatru deities.

This album gets my absolute highest recommendation, and the bonus disc is full of extra goodies such as unreleased tracks and demos that will make any metalhead happy. Get this war metal masterpiece and may you enjoy endless battle & warfare in the Halls of Valhalla to the end of your days!

If I had to choose the greatest Viking metal band of all time, this would be it. Their newest release Fate of Norns, might make me question that claim, but we'll save that for another review. Every band reaches their peak and inevitably starts their downward spiral. This band was lucky to have an early peak (Once Sent from the Golden Hall) and managed to hover around that peak for 3 more albums. This is the last of their three crushing follow up albums to Once Sent.

This CD is absolutely amazing in every aspect. It has everything you could ask for from a Viking Death Metal band. Heavy crushing beats, unique and low growls, lyrics centered on Viking heritage and religion; nothing's left out of this classic. I've had this CD for over a year now, and decided I should let everybody else know how good it is. There are fast songs, there are slow songs, there are doom-like songs, but one thing remains the same. The Amon Amarth sound. These guys escape the "generic" tag that some have been given in their genre and they continue to experiment with style and sound to create a new and fresh sounding album every time. It's not a coincidence that most of my favorite bands happen to do this.

Death in Fire is a perfect way to kick off this album, as the drums totally get you into it to the point where you want to jump out of your seat and start growling the lyrics like a true Norseman. (I...uh... have never done that... ya...) What follows is eight more brutal and masterful tracks, and I can truly say that none of them are even close to boring or repetitive. Every song on this album is amazing, and together makes up one of the most solid CD's in my extensive collection.

If you are new to Amon Amarth, this is the place to start; I promise you won't be disappointed. As an added bonus, we are treated to a second CD full of older demos and re-mastered songs from older albums.

\m/ Recommended \m/

Wow, I can't fathom how much this made me love AA when I heard this explosive CD two years ago, this still remains as my favorite AA album. Boasting cruising guitar melodies, varying song structures, in-your-face drums, and Johan's deep and visceral growl topping it all, this is one of the best metal releases in the previous years, in my opinion. On "Versus the World", Amon Amarth slowdd things down a bit, leaving more room for songwriting and those majestic guitar melodies. But some songs still recall the days of the previous 3 albums, such as the blistering title track or the fiery "Down the Slopes of Death". This is definitely a good starting point for anyone new to death metal, and my personal favorite AA album.

The songwriting is impeccable. These Swedes never once fall into a dirge of redundancy or mediocrity, leaving the listener on their toes with the power of unpredictable song structures, albeit simple and straight-forward playing. They know how to keep things exciting, which is important for any DM album. Fredrik's drumming is at its best here, boasting everything from rolling double bass, to mind-boggling tom rolls, and some great strong rhythms featuring some great work on the snare. He knows what fits the songs, when simple time-keeping is needed, and when to go balls-out ballistic on his kit. The double bass sticks out quite a bit, adding a HUGE sound to the album, coupled with a slick production and soaring guitars, the high point of the album. The signature melodeath melodies, when played in unison, create a great battle-like atmosphere. You can just feel the urge within to go to battle and see your Viking brothers battling it out on the foggy plains of Sweden!! Johan's furious vocals top it all off, screaming with the utmost intensity and feeling. It's easy to see that these Swedes are NOT very happy fellows, and with good reason! Here's the track by track review.

1. Death in Fire- A classic AA song with stampeding drums, gritty guitars, and a great headbanging mid-paced tempo. Also has some great lyrics. 5/5

2. For the Stabwounds in Our Backs- Starts off a bit slower with bells tolling, only to come full-force and pummel the listener. The guitar work here is excellent, featuring some hyper-speed tremolo picking. 4/5

3. Where Silent Gods Stand Guard- A very nice slower song with some basic, but almost depressive guitar work, and a strong rhythm with rock-solid drumwork. Special mention to the lyrics, which may be gory, but tell a great story. 4.5/5

4. Versus the World- Woah!! One of the best on the album, and ultimately furious and unforgiving with its battering drumwork, catchy chorus, and awesome vocals. 5/5

5. Across the Rainbow Bridge- Much in the vein of track 3, but a bit faster. Pretty good track with nearly tranquil guitars, but nothing too special. 3/5

6. Down the Slopes of Death- Probably the fastest track on the album, a true thrasher. Pummels everything and laves nothing unscathed. 4/5

7. A Thousand Years of Oppression- My personal favorite track on the album with great melodic guitars, straight-forward lyrics, and a hateful and resentful atmosphere. 5/5

8. Bloodshed- Another catchy chorus here, but that's about it. 3/5

9. ...And Soon the World Will Cease to Be- Now THIS is Viking metal! The main guitar line is fantastic, and thw song retains a proud feel through the whole song. Ends the song on a very strong note.

I decided to take a star off because some songs can get a bit boring, and a bit redundant. I got the limited edition of this CD with an extra disc featuring some old demos, which gives the listener a perspective of how the band evolved over time, and has some great AA classics.

All in all, this CD is still on my top 10 list, and comes highly reccommended to any fans of death metal.

A reason to live that's been a long time coming.A worldview into the Pagan with the most emotive musicianship I've seen. I've said it that this is my favorite metal album in terms of guitars and their emotions and the creative interplay between the guitars and I am transported. If my friends never reclaim me as such i stand before the gates with the fortitude this provides. I am ready to Take on the world, As Amon Amarth "Vs. the World"!

First I would like to say that unlike what someone said this CD is not Satanic. Just because it does not support xtian philosophy does not mean they are Satanic. Anyway...
This CD is different then there other ones. Harder and more melodic at the same time. You have songs like Down The Slopes Of Death which are just pure fury, but then you have songs like Thousand Years Of Oppression where it is both Melodic and Hard. A very interesting and good album.
Lets go through this song by song:

1) Death In Fire: Starts out with a head banging classic with great guitar riffs and catchy tunes. A great opening. 5/5
2) For The Stabwounds in Our Backs: In the beginning a slower song but then picks up speed and launches into a full metal attack. A great song that will have your blood pumping. 5/5
3) Where Silent Gods Stand Guard: A slower song about at mad man who kills enemies and brings there skulls to his shrine. I cant say it is one of my favorite songs on the CD. I liked it the first few times but than it started to sound a bit repetitive to me. Most people will like this song though. 4.5/5
4) Vs. The World: All I can really say about this song is WOW! It is melodic/hard at the same time and is just woven together beautifully. Amazing song! A classic. 5.5/5
5) Across the Rainbow Bridge: Another slower song about a soldier who has grown old and will take his own life on his own sword so that he may go feast in the hall of Valhalla. Catchy in its own sort of way but again does not really agree with me for some reason. 4/5
6) Down The Slopes Of Death: This is one of my favorites on this album. It is a harder song and will keep your blood boiling the whole way through. 5.5/5
7) Thousand Years Of Oppression: This well could be my favorite song on the whole CD. It tells Odin's rune poem but adds a twist to it. It tells of the rise of the Vikings once again to shake the very foundations of xtianity. A an amazing song that will fill your soul with this feeling that is indescribable. 6/5
8) Bloodshed: This is the one song on the CD I can actually say I don't like. Musically its not a bad song, but for some reason I just don't like it. 4/5
9) ... And Soon The World Will Cease To Be: An amazing song about Ragnarok (the Nordic version of the end of the world). This song will be stuck in your head for days. The melody is perfect, the lyrics heartfelt. An amazing song. 5.5/5

CD Highlights: Vs. The World, Down The Slopes Of Death, Thousand Years Of Oppression, ...And Soon The World Will Cease To Be.

Final Verdict: A classic metal album that should be in most metal collections.

This album is amazing. To try to illustrate how great it really is, I'll tell you this: while I have always been a fan of metal, I never really had ventured far into the Death Metal genre. But Amon Amarth, and specifically this album, sucked me in.

Disc one is the actual "Versus the World" album, and every track is a keeper. No filler here. My favorites are "Death in Fire" and "Thousand Years of Oppression". But they all rock.

On disc two, there is one bonus track for the "Versus the World" album, "Siegreicher Marsch". Another awesome song about Viking beserkers, all in German. The remaining songs are taken from early Amon Amarth albums and demos. They're good songs, but not as powerful as the disc one songs.

I've only recently gotten the promotional CD, and quite frankly I've never heard anything else by Amon Amarth, but I've fallen completely in love with this album. As a matter of fact I'm playing it on the air as I type this. I plan to interview this band very soon, actually.
I highly recommend Amon Amarth for anyone who loves slower, ominous death metal... Opeth for example.

Excellent cd. There are ALOT of standout tracks in this cd. Right when i Put it on and listened to Death in Fire, I was blown away, the intro guitar riff and the drums caught my attention immediately. Im gonna go ahead and skip to Down the Slopes of Death because the beginning guitar riff is incredily catchy and they leave you hanging on your seat so your waiting to hear it again and they throw it in at all the right moments, amazing song. Across the Rainbow bridge is beginning to become one of my favorites, pretty much a good majority of the songs start off like there missing something and as soon as you hear them play that missing part it just explodes with favoritism. Bloodshed is another one that kicks a**. hearing the singer moan bloodshed while everything else goes silent is the greatest. Dont even get me started on "The doors of the speargods hall," "Without Fear," and "Siegreicher Marsch." Like I said, ALOT of catchy tracks that really stand out.

Im used to listening to alot of Death metal like Cannibal Corpse and Grindcore metal like Aborted and Amon AMarth is just perfect and a nice change because the melody and tone and altogether feeling of the band is amazing, and ive mentioned this in another review but every aspect of the band represents viking, i mean, when you picture vikings doesnt this music just fit the profile perfectly? Even the way the band looks.

The latest from Amon Amarth is simply not their best but their best effort in branching out their unique sound it should help them to sell more albums and maybe get more people at their gigs....With that said I must admit I really love it and will continue to push it and promote it ....

"Versus the World" is a brutally crushing, majestic, and all around amazing album from Swedish viking/melodic death metal titans Amon Amarth, and it's also one of the best albums in the band's catalog as well. I must say that I have really become a big fan of Amon Amarth lately, ever since I bought "With Oden on Our Side" as well as their latest album "Twilight of the Thunder God" (which is AA's best album thus far). I've also recently gotten "Fate of Norns" for Christmas just this past year as well. Amon Amarth are definately one of my favorite bands now, and they're also currently my favorite melodic death metal band right now as well. I bought this album at FYE back in November just last year, and I just love it. I listen to this album just about every week, I just can't get enough of it. Whenever I listen to Amon Amarth, I always feel like I'm a viking charging into battle, they're music is heavy, crushing and brutal, yet it's also very majestic, atmospheric and melodic as well. Well anyways, "Versus the World" is an absolutely amazing album that immediately charges and stampedes through your speakers right from the get-go and never stops from that moment on. The lyrics are very fascinating and brilliant which of course center on viking herritage, warfare, religion, Norse Mythology, and battles for honor and glory, and the musicianship is just outstanding. Leading the charge is vocalist Johan Hegg, who dominates throughout with his fierce, visceral, commanding growls that will make you want to shout/growl along in unison. The guitarwork of Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Soderberg is just awesome on here with heavy, brutal, charging headbanging worthy riffs, addicting tremolo picking leads and majestic melodies which can all create great battle-like atmospheres. Bassist Ted Lundstrom rides his way throughout with nice, strong basslines, and Fredrik Andersson's drumming is absolutely punishing throughout with heavy, pummeling, marching beats and relentless double bass kicking onslaughts.

Here's a look at some highlights.

The opening song "Death In Fire" is a classic Amon Amarth song, and one of their best known songs as well, which is highlighted by an awesome headbanging mid-paced tempo, powerful, stampeding double bass drumming, brutal, pummeling riffage, and there's also a very cool finger tapping lead part around 1:51, and a sweet melodic solo by Soderberg around 3:50. This is no doubt, one of my favorite AA songs, and a great headbanging anthem too. Track two "For the Stabwounds in Our Backs" starts off slow with some bells tolling, but quickly launches into an all out speedfest which features charging, speeding, wild, thrashing riffs, and brutal, enraged growling from Johan. Track three "Where Silent Gods Stand Guard" is my personal favorite song on this album, as well as another one of my favorite Amon Amarth songs. This song always gets stuck in my head, and it gets me pumped up every time I hear it. This song lyrically tells a story about a man who slays his enemies, and then brings their skulls to his shrine. Fredrik's drumming is just fantastic, which features a catchy mid-paced drum beat, and rattling double bass kicks, and the riffs are just excellent and addicting, especially with some catchy melodic riffing from 2:34 to 3:34, and there's also an awesomely melodic and majestic guitar solo by Mikkonen around 4:12 as well.

The title track is another highlight on here, and is brutally heavy, punishing, and downright merciless throughout. This song is highlighted by churning, chilling, menacing riffs, hefty marching drum beats, and merciless double bass kicking. Johan's growls are absolutely furious and ruthless on this song. The chorus is absolutely amazing especially with some great melodic tremolo picking riffs included, and there's also an epic instrumental breakdown around the 3 minute mark that will make you bang your head in unison. Track six "Down the Slopes of Death" is another ruthless and menacing cut that features vicious, pummeling drums, relentless riffing, and more of Johan's fierce, commanding growls. Track seven "A Thousand Years of Oppression" is a more slower, doomish cut that features excellent melodic guitarwork throughout especially with some sweet tremolo picking leads, and "...and Soon the World Will Cease to Be" is an excellent album closer (which lyrically tells about Ragnarok's occurances) that is highlighted by addictingly epic tremolo picking riffs, more hefty, pummeling skin beats and rattling double bass kicks, and the ending part is very cool as well. As an added bonus, we also have a bonus disc that includes "Siegreicher Marsch" which is a German version of "Victorious March", as well as a collection of older demos and remastered songs.

Jeremy's song ratings:
1. Death in Fire (4:54) - 10/10
2. For the Stabwounds in Our Backs (4:56) - 10/10
3. Where Silent Gods Stand Guard (5:46) - 10/10
4. Versus the World (5:21) - 10/10
5. Across the Rainbow Bridge (4:50) - 10/10
6. Down the Slopes of Death (4:08) - 10/10
7. A Thousand Years of Oppression (5:41) - 10/10
8. Bloodshed (5:13) - 10/10
9. ...and Soon the World Will Cease to Be (6:57) - 10/10

Overall, "Versus the World" is a serious must have for any fan of Amon Amarth, death metal, viking metal, melodic death metal, but mostly metal period. This album is no doubt, a heavily crushing, yet majestically melodic viking/death metal classic that should NOT be ignored, even by the serious metalhead. Buy this album now!! ALL HAIL AMON AMARTH!!