Amon Amarth - Fate of Norns
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Music CD Cover Artist: Amon Amarth Brand: AMON AMARTH Edition: Music CD CD Release Date: 2004-09-07 Music Label: Metal Blade Product features:
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| New | New Usually ships in 1-2 business days | $6.55 | ||
| Used | Used Usually ships in 1-2 business days | $4.00 |
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Free Music Notes for Fate of Norns Album
Free Music Review: It's ok if you don't own any of their other albums.
Hit: 3 Stars
There are very few bands that can get away with releasing the same album over and over again, and still manage to receive constant praise, as well as building up an empire of fans. Amon Amarth has seemingly done just that. There are very few differences between this latest release and the bands last epic "Versus the World", and in fact any of the bands five albums to date. I guess the band members realised they were onto a good thing back in the late 90s and just decided to ride it as far as it can go.
For the uninitiated, Amon Amarth play viking death metal. They have viking imagery, lyrics based on viking history and traditions, and a lead singer that is the total cliche of what a viking supposedly would have looked like. There is never any doubt as to which band you are listening to when you hear Amon Amarth. Within seconds you can easily recognise the mid-paced death metal structures and battle induced pummelling drums.
The question I've been struggling to answer while listening to "Fate of Norns" over the past few weeks is "have Amon Amarth done enough with this release for me to recommend it to anyone but the bands biggest fans?" Now don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed "Versus the World" and was very pleased that the band received some well earned respect and worship for their work. But I also think the time has come for the guys to knock down the very solid castle they have built and do something fresh.
There is nothing technically wrong with "Fate of Norns". It focuses more on the slower paced epics throughout its 40 minute playing time and manages to capture the tone and emotion of a time of war and honour. There are riffs here and there that have my head nodding in approval and the lyrics, as usual, are emotion-filled tales of loss and revenge. But repetitiveness seems to set in due to the albums lack of variety long before the CD stops spinning.
If you don't own an Amon Amarth album, you may enjoy what "Fate of Norns" has to offer although personally, I'd recommend "Versus the World" for your first experience. If you've been a follower over the years, I simply can't recommend rushing off to purchase this album. I can't see my self listening to it very much no matter how solid it is. Heres hoping the guys add a few new ingredients into the mix for its inevitable follow up.