Amon Amarth / Wintersun

23 November 2006

The Scala, London




Wintersun came as something of a disappointment at Wacken this year. Not due to the band`s performance, but the sound was just so thin that everything was lost whenever any pace was injected. It was therefore a delight to find the sound crystal clear as they ripped into Winter Madness, with possible the best sound I`ve yet heard at The Scala.



With their guitars pointed skywards, watching the trio of Jari Mäenpää, Teemu Mäntysaari and Jukka Koskinen speed across their fretboards during Beyond The Dark Sun was mesmerising. This song showcased Wintersun`s ability to blend all out speed with technicality, whilst still being very melodic.



Taking the foot off the pedal however for a majestic Sleeping Stars and Death & The Healing worked well in pacing the set. The latter was backed by the audience with a chorus of "wooah-oooh`s", as was the following Battle Against Time which threw us back into hyperspeed.



With his pointy, Jack Frost like features, Mäenpää is the mastermind behind Wintersun and he`s still not letting any of his latest creations from the forthcoming Time album, out of the bag. Closing with Starchild means we received two-thirds of the band`s debut and Mäenpää has set himself a high water mark to beat with his sophomore release.



Wintersun set list:

Winter Madness / Beyond The Dark Sun / Sleeping Stars / Death & The Healing / Battle Against Time / Starchild




It hadn`t really occurred to me looking at the cover of With Oden On Our Side, but confronted by a large backdrop with the image of the Norse God on his horse, the question is, "Is it a sword handle or a large penis?"



Amon Amarth have been building their following slowly and surely in the UK since their first appearance in 1998, referred to by Johan Hegg before Once Sent From The Golden Hall from that very year. I was there that night at the Mean Fiddler to witness a bill which also featured Deicide, Six Feet Under, Brutal Truth and Naglfar. Not a great deal has changed, with the band`s line-up solidifying and their sound refined rather than revolutionized over the years. The packed Scala proves however that their persistence has paid off.



At Wacken the band were joined by a troop of Vikings, but on this smaller stage, lined up against the monitors, Amon Amarth resemble an invading frontline. There`s symmetry to their appearance with Hegg and bassist Ted Lundström centre, stripped to the waist, flanked either side by Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg with matching black t-shirts and Explorer guitars. Intermittently all four commence synchronised head twirling, with Hegg`s beard also following his hair around.



Latest album, With Oden On Our Side, features heavily in a lengthy set and the more recent material certainly seems to have a more memorable nature and features more sing-a-long choruses. Runes To My Memory seems an instant fan favourite with the crowd indulging in some fist pumping and "oi" shouting across the melodic pre-chorus. Following that Hegg bellowed at the crowd "Are you ready for metal?" and following an affirmative response announced "Death In…". Looking away in disgust, with a shake of the head at Ted Lundström, his second cry of "Death In…" is met with a roar of "FIRE!" from the crowd. From the same album, Thousand Years Of Oppression may not have the same crowd participation, but the steady build of the song is grandiose.



With their relentless attack as older, The Last With Pagan Blood and newer, Asator, fly by Amon Amarth batter us into submission and it`s only after God Of War arise that we eventually are given a brief respite. The P.A. also then took a break as a false alarm fire warning sounded "Please evacuate". Nobody was going anywhere though, as the crowd took over the vocals from a silenced Hegg, much to his satisfaction and toasted by a sip from his drinking horn.



Versus The World and fittingly Victorious March close a triumphant set. Apparently we nearly lost Amon Amarth a couple of years ago, but whatever lit their collective fire, it certainly shone bright in their performance tonight.



Amon Amarth set list:

Valhall Awaits Me / Runes To My Memory / Death In Fire / The Fate Of Norns / Thousand Years Of Oppression / With Oden On Our Side / Asator / An Ancient Sign Of Coming Storm / Cry Of The Black Birds / The Last With Pagan Blood / Once Sent From The Golden Hall / Gods Of War Arise / Pursuit Of Vikings / Versus The World / Victorious March






LINKS:

Amon Amarth

Wintersun