Artist: Amon Amarth
Label: Metal Blade
Release Date: 1/14/03
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Title: Versus the World Artist: Amon Amarth Label: Metal Blade Release Date: 1/14/03 |
Judgment Committee Reviews | Rating |
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Abyss's Review:
While the denizens of Europe have had this one in their filthy little paws for some time now, it is finally enjoying its stateside release. Amon Amarth have rebounded well from their last album, The Crusher, which I must admit, I found disappointing.
"The cadence of 'Death in Fire' is so catchy you feel like singing along even though you don't know the words." Not so with their latest release; from the opening track, this album is a melodic shredfest that gets you screaming along and banging your head. Track one is simply one of the most stirring metal songs I've heard in a long time. "Death in Fire" leads us off and is at once blistering and accessible. I say accessible because the cadence of the song is so catchy you feel like singing along even though you don't know the words. Of course, you finally learn a couple and just go "blah, blah, blah" until you get to the ones you know, and then you scream them out.
The best part about this album is that it just seems full of adrenaline throughout the entire disc. Most of it is fast paced and almost seems upbeat, despite the dark lyrics that are present in almost all death metal. It strikes me as the perfect psych up music before a sporting event, the kind that will bring legions to war, desperate to kill or die. Of course, at my age my athletic days are behind me, so I'll probably just use it to get psyched up for drinking, but it will still get the job done.
That isn't to say that the album is perfect, it just satisfies a certain thirst that I have for melodic, yet not entirely flowery death metal. In many ways it hits me in much the same way that Dark Tranquility's Damage Done did last year. Of course, as good as a song at it is, "Death in Fire" has a few innocuous guitar leads laced throughout it, and another great song, "Bloodshed" makes me smile when, at about 4:30 into the song, the lead appears to be ripping off part of the melody of Irene Cara's "Fame." It's also hard for me to look at their album covers and not think Manowar, and while these things may make it harder for me to take this band completely seriously, they really take nothing away from my enjoyment of the album.
"...at about 4:30 into the song, the lead appears to be ripping off part of the melody of Irene Cara's 'Fame.'" This album has no real filler and standout tracks like "Death In Fire," "Bloodshed," "...and soon the world will cease to be" and "Across the Rainbow Bridge." If you liked any of their previous releases, you will be more than happy with Versus the World. Remember their name... (Fame!). One word review: Invigorating.
Death's Review:
Versus the World is a catchy yet brutal album that is definitely worth your time. This is simply a great listen, if you like your death metal heavy yet thrashy and filled with conviction. Amon Amarth sound like they are settling into a sound that these Vikings can be proud of for years to come. Forced to leave the familiar confines of the Abyss Studio to forge a new history with Berno Studio, where Versus the World was recorded, the album strikes a strange balance between focus and rawness, something refreshing yet abrasive - and it's impossible not to tap your hands on the streering wheel of your car along with the double-bass drums and riffs while banging your head. This is the power of Versus the World.
"Amon Amarth sound like they are settling into a sound that these Vikings can be proud of for years to come."
Sometimes it is the simple joy of banging your head, distilled to its purest moments, that makes being a metalhead so much fun. Sure, I like complex, technical and deep music just as much as the next guy. But I also like to listen to music to smash things by, and Amon Amarth fits squarely into the latter category, and in doing so, slay all recent competition. It is the tightness and the brutality of the record combined with the infectious nature of the simple thrashy melodies buried within the tracks that make this album rise a notch above the rest. Forget your past impressions of Amon Amarth; no matter where you are coming from in the metal world, this one belongs on your playlist.
"Forget your past impressions of Amon Amarth; no matter where you are coming from in the metal world, this one belongs on your playlist."
Hel's Review:
I don't know what it is about this album, but I have been listening to it over and over, and once I reach the end, each time I have the same reaction: How can it be over, I don't remember having listened to more than a song or two… Which begs a larger question: Can you really consider an album "great" if you can't remember it when it is over? If it is possible to do so, then this would be the example to cite.
"Can you really consider an album 'great' if you can't remember it when it is over?"
"I cannot deny that it's quality music, but I can't get as excited about it as it probably deserves either." Versus the World is a well crafted, well performed record. The two songs which repeatedly stick in my mind are the first and last, "Death in Fire" and "…And Soon the World Will Cease to Be" - both have amazing, catchy riffs that unfailingly bring me back to the here and now. But that just leads me to wonder why the other seven songs on the record seem completely unable to manage that.
I got a late start on listening to this album, but at this stage, I'm not sure it would have made a difference to my overall noncommittal feelings about the record. Perhaps I've hit one of those cynical, jaded stretches that only the most original album can break me out of. Or maybe Amon Amarth just doesn't do it for me on some deep, basic level - certainly, The Avenger failed to fully capture my attention as well. Whatever the case, I cannot deny that it's quality music, but I can't get as excited about it as it probably deserves either.
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