[9/10] Twilight of the Thunder God is everything fans have come to expect from Amon Amarth: odes to the Norse gods of wars, hard-driving drums, savage battle cries and old school metal meets Swedish death. This album includes a few surprises, though. It is the group’s first recording featuring guest appearances. L.G. Petrov of Swedish death metal trail blazers Entombed lends his guttural vocals to “Guardians of Asgaard.” Apocalyptica –a group known for bringing in guest musicians on their albums—provides a cello passage on “Live For the Kill.” The said track and the title track also contain another element fairly new to the Amon Amarth camp: guitar solos.

The guitar work on Twilight of the Thunder God is nothing short of amazing! Guitarists Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg pick away catchy riff after catching riff. Some riffs to check out include the old school guitar lick on “Free Will Sacrifice,” which seems taken from the vault of classic Swedish death metal, ala Unleashed’s “The One Insane.” Also, hear the graceful melodies on “Varyags Of Miklagaard.” Their simple tremolo style ties in all these riffs, and supplies a movie score quality to move along Hegg’s battle hymns.

The changes are usually simple, as are the notes they play. Usually they open with a muted, low end rhythm, and then open up that riff. Often, Fredrik Anderson’s drumming moves between double bass blasts to skin pounding, but this technique always instills strength to their sound. For example, “Where is Your God” begins with a syncopated, rolling guitar rhythm. Then, as if they wheeled out a massive, log-splitting table saw, the group opens up the muted rhythm with a jagged, buzzing riff.

“Where is Your God” also highlights Amon Amarth’s musical imagery. Johan Hegg sings uncommonly fast on this track, thus producing an image of a vast force of fierce Vikings over running an unassuming English military unit. The beginning passage of “Tattered Banners And Bloody Flags” conjures visions of tattered flags of a defeated army’s crest—ripped, torn and flapping solemnly in the wind. Anderson’s drums assume the part of the soldiers marching home in shame.

Like any great metal band, Amon Amarth’s albums have this quality that is the perfect motivator during those shitty work days. Tracks like the title track and “Guardians of Asgaard” contain plenty of triumphant sing-along passages. Listeners may also find their selves humming many of the group’s numerous captivating rhythms. With Twilight of the Thunder God, Amon Amarth keeps the Viking war machine rolling and presents one of the best albums of 2008!

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