Amon Amarth with Entombed A.D. & Exmortus
May 14th, 2016
MacEwan Hall, Calgary
“The Vikings have landed!” might as well have been the war cry heard throughout the province on the evening that Amon Amarth prepared to play their only Alberta date on the tour. With an amazing lineup, this particular show was highly anticipated and drew metalheads from hours away. Met by chainmailed and helmeted viking sentinels upon entering the venue, the anticipation was tangible.
Exmortus opened the show, shredding their way through a blistering set. Touring on the back of their latest album, ‘Ride Forth’, it was unfortunate that many fans were still trying to get into the venue or caught up in the merchandise line for their set. Although only being afforded a rather short set, Exmortus proved that they belong with the other heavy hitters in the lineup.
Entombed A.D., still somewhat synonymous with the original Entombed, played to a fuller house even though people were still trying to get in the doors halfway through their set. For the old-school death metal fans in the audience it was quite a treat to witness L.G. Petrov and crew playing a few classic Entombed songs as well as some of the newer, more death n’roll styled material.
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| Photo by the talented Dana Zuk. |
Amon Amarth stormed onto stage, ripping into “Pursuit of Vikings”. The Swedes played to a packed house with a well-rounded set of older and newer material. Although more focus was placed on material from ‘Jomsviking’, enough of the classics were played to keep even long-time Amon Amarth fans satisfied. The elaborate stage props, consisting of a giant viking-helmet drum riser and several different backdrops, added to the ambiance of the set. Chainmailed vikings battling with swords and shields enhanced many of the songs from the ‘Jomsviking’ album. “First Kill” seemed a crowd favorite, while “Runes To My Memory” was one that proved a favorite with certain segments of the audience. While it would have been wickedly awesome to witness L.G. Petrov handling some of the vocals to “Guardians Of Asgaard”, as he did on the ‘Twilight Of The Thunder God’ album, it wasn’t to be. Amon Amarth demonstrated yet again why they have gained popularity in recent years. Playing a tight set, carried by the powerful vocals of Johan Hegg, these vikings once again kicked some serious ass.
The first all-ages Amon Amarth show I’ve witnessed was truly packed with those of all ages. From little metalheads dressed in chainmail with battleaxes to old-school metalheads who were likely listening to Swedish death metal when Entombed A.D. was known as Nihilist and before the release of ‘Left Hand Path’ this show represented multiple generations of metalheads. From the frenzied, mixed stylings of Exmortus, to the classic-death metal influences of Entombed, to the never disappointing and always energetic, perfectly melodic death metal viking anthems of Amon Amarth, it was a show that wasn’t to be missed.
