Swedish melodic death metallers AMON AMARTH will release their twelfth studio album, “The Great Heathen Army”, on August 5 via Metal Blade. Today’s announcement is highlighted by the release of brand new track and accompanying music video, “Get In The Ring”, which was written for AEW pro-wrestling star Erick Redbeard, who also stars in the music video.
Pre-orders available now HERE with the first 1000 orders at the band’s European Victorious Merch store receiving a free signed poster. Pre-orders feature a host of exclusive vinyl variants and must-have merch items for any self-respecting AMON AMARTH fan.
On the release of new single “Get In The Ring”, Mikkonen continues: “I really like ‘Get In The Ring’ which was written for our friend Erick Redbeard the pro wrestler as an ‘entrance’ song for him. The lyrics are obviously written to fit both Viking and wrestling themes, and you can also see Erick as the lead character in the new video for the song. We shot the video in Wroclaw, Poland with our friends Grupa 13 and they helped us create this dark and epic Mad Max meets Viking underground super brutal fight club for the video clip.”
Recorded with esteemed studio guru Andy Sneap at the controls, “The Great Heathen Army” represents another bold leap forward for AMON AMARTH, as their trademark sound undergoes yet another skillful, evolutionary overhaul, both lyrically and musically. From the noisily rabble-rousing “Find A Way Or Make One” and the pummeling, pugilistic “Get In The Ring” to the evocative fury of “Saxons & Vikings” and the cinematic squall of the title track, “The Great Heathen Army” encapsulates the essence of this legendary band, while still allowing acres of space for new ideas.
AMON AMARTH vocalist Johan Hegg comments: “Overall ‘The Great Heathen Army’ is one of the heavier albums we’ve made. There are some dark and heavy songs that are really powerful and in your face, but we obviously have some trademark melodic AMON AMARTH songs on there as well and a few surprises too. It’s a really well-balanced album. It sounds great. Andy Sneap is awesome. It was great to be able to work with him again.”
Guitarist Olavi Mikkonen adds: “We’ve been away making new music and we’re back with new darker, more death metal-sounding album. If ‘Berserker’ was our ‘heavy metal’ album, then ‘The Great Heathen Army’ is our ‘death metal’ album. But with that said, it’s still very much contemporary AMON AMARTH, but perhaps style-wise we have gone back to our roots a little bit.”
“The Great Heathen Army” track listing:
1. Get In The Ring
2. The Great Heathen Army
3. Heidrun
4. Oden Owns You All
5. Find A Way Or Make One
6. Dawn Of Norsemen
7. Saxons And Vikings
8. Skagul Rides With Me
9. The Serpent’s Trail
This past February, AMON AMARTH released a standalone single, “Put Your Back Into The Oar”, an ode to the epic Viking row. The track was recorded and mixed in January 2021 at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden with producer Jens Bogren and was made available via the band’s own label Victorious Music.
The “Put Your Back Into The Oar” video was shot in England over three days in October 2021. The atmospheric, cinematic clip was produced by Twin V and directed by Ryan MackFall at Crashburn Media.
AMON AMARTH will team up with MACHINE HEAD for the “Vikings And Lionhearts” co-headlining European arena tour in September and October.
