Amon Amarth have announced their 13th studio album, The Allfather Awakens, due October 2 via Metal Blade Records. The announcement is accompanied by the album’s opening track and lead single, “Gjallarhorn.” The record follows the band’s first-ever acoustic excursion, the EP Upphaf, and was made using a new song-by-song writing and recording process developed across two studio sessions.
Where the stripped-back “Upphaf” carried the solemnity of an oral history whispered under the shadow of the Allfather, “Gjallarhorn” arrives as a furious Amon Amarth classic. “Gjallarhorn’s” driving, upbeat guitar riff and high-tempo, catchy chorus fuse with a few surprises that ensure itself to be a future live staple.
To gain wisdom beyond mortal comprehension, Oden made the ultimate sacrifice – gouging out his own eye and casting it into the Well of Wisdom, Mímisbrunnr, in exchange for cosmic insight and foresight that would shape the fate of gods and men alike. Now, Amon Amarth bring that ancient reckoning to life with “Gjallarhorn” – and they are extending Oden’s offer to you. Those who received the eye know what must be done. Those who did not: seek it out. Sacrifice your sight. Gain your foresight.
Pre-order the album here.
The album came to life across two sessions at producer Jacob Hansen’s studio in Denmark: the first in spring 2025, with recording completed in March 2026. For the first time, Amon Amarth began writing songs while on tour rather than waiting until they were off the road. Sonically, the band moved away from 5150 amplifiers and back to Marshalls. Guitarist Olavi Mikkonen described the approach: “We worked on one song at a time and made each song as good as possible. Then we recorded one song at a time until each track was totally finished — drums, guitars, and vocals. Only then did we start on the next one.”
The album’s cover art is a portrait of Oden by Tom Thiel, who has now created seven of the quintet’s album covers. This autumn, The Allfather Awakens will be accompanied by an entirely new live production inspired by Oden’s legendary Golden Hall, transforming the band’s concert experience into a living extension of the record.
Amon Amarth were formed in Tumba, Sweden in 1992. Over three decades, the band has toured alongside Slayer, Iron Maiden, Slipknot and Pantera, and headlined landmark shows at Los Angeles’s The Forum, Denver’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Germany’s Wacken Open Air — where they played to 85,000 in 2024. Amon Amarth has headlined the U.K.’s Bloodstock Open Air twice and appeared at Download four times (2008–2019) and at Summer Breeze eight times (2003–2024), six of them as headliner. Their current North American tour runs with Dethklok and Castle Rat.
Among the cultural phenomena associated with the band is “The Row” — a synchronized rowing motion first performed by audience members at their 2009 Bloodstock set, in which fans get on the ground and imitate rowing an invisible longship in unison. The band formally acknowledged the tradition with the 2022 single “Put Your Back Into The Oar.” The phenomenon has since spread to other concerts and events, including audiences at the 2026 World Cup. Amon Amarth is: Johan Hegg (vocals), Olavi Mikkonen (guitar), Johan Söderberg (guitar), Ted Lundström (bass) and Jocke Wallgren (drums).
