Kingcrimsonprog
2006’s With Oden On Our Side is my personal favourite Amon Amarth record. The band recorded some of their best music here, which is high praise considering that the band have never put out a bad album.
Amon Amarth release high quality music, with impressive twin lead guitar harmonies, hammering double kicks and Johan Hegg’s incredibly enjoyable death-vocals over the top of it all, in an audible and clear way that helps the band stand out.
The band’s Norse/Viking imagery and lyrics helps set a great atmosphere but don’t think Amon Amarth are a gimmick band, they have the musical skills and songwriting prowess to back it up.
The album is of a very constant quality so there is no filler or weaker songs to discount, everything on With Oden On Our Side is great. Standout tracks are the famous ‘Runes To My Memory,’ the dynamic ‘Cry of the Black Birds’ and the fabulous title track, which is easily one of the best songs the band have produced to date.
Overall, Amon Amarth are a great band and With Oden On Our Side is a great example of what they do, it still has the fire and passion of their earlier work and yet also the slick, perfection of their later work. Just a great bunch of heavy, enjoyable songs all around.