Amon Amarth kick off their UK/EU jaunt in support of their latest album, The Allfather Awakens. Support comes from Orbit Culture and Soilwork.

SOILWORK

Much like tonight’s headliners, Soilwork are veterans of the game. Having formed some thirty years or so ago, the Swedish melodic death metal act arrive slightly later than billed. It seems there are a few gremlins in the system. When the band hit the stage, they waste no time in getting stuck in.

From the off, they are full of energy. Even during opener, The Nurutring Glance, the FOH sound appears sketchy. When things align, the crowd let the band know with a huge cheer and fully embrace the band. They fist pump along with plenty of the front rows getting well involved. Singer, Björn Strid, is dressed in a dapper black get up and encourages the crowd more and more to ‘make some bloody noise!’ Although early, Manchester obliges. Soilwork’s truncated thirty minute set hits the spot and by the time the band reach their end, they leave to great ovation.

ORBIT CULTURE

In my previous experiences of seeing Orbit Culture, they have always had a strong presence in their aesthetic. The stage is turned around to feature a huge antler laden backdrop complete with banners and their own lighting rig sitting left and right of the drums.

Now five albums in, Orbit Culture and absolutely clinical in their delivery. They arrive in a sea of darkness before relentless strobes pummel the retinas. People oblige with circle pits and walls of death throughout at the request of singer Niklas Karlsson. As things get more vociferous, people surf over the top of the barrier with the atmosphere ramping up a notch or two during their set.

“It feels so good to be back in Manchester,” says Karlsson. The ovation is massive and the band showcase why they are so highly respected. While We Serve is a huge highlight and closer, Vultures Of North,is blistering. In forty minutes, they waste no time in tearing Manchester a new one. None of the songs stick around for too long, but make no mistake, they do not half make a mark. As they leave, they pay tribute to the bands on the bill before a huge safety curtain falls in anticipation of Amon Amarth’s arrival.

AMON AMARTH

When the familiar drum introduction to Iron Maiden’s Run To The Hills sounds, the O2 Apollo sends up an almighty roar. The time is near; the invasion imminent. There is something special about being the first stop on a major tour. A week removed from The Allfather Awakens being released, the veteran Swedes have nothing left to prove. They’re pioneers of what they do, and one of the more recognisable bands in all of heavy metal. Through decades of graft, Amon Amarth have honed their craft and on this night in Manchester, they display the fruits of their labour in a spectacular two hour show that has top class melodic death metal in spades, as well as a visual show that will live long in the memory.

Gjallarhorn opens the show. Each member of the band slowly ambles onstage with Johan Hegg leading the crowd in the tracks central vocal refrain. It lights the touchpaper for the night before the band flick the pyro switch and welcome Oden onstage for War Of The Gods off 2011’s Surtur Rising. Going back in time even further, Death In Fire completes the opening trio of songs before the rarely played Free Will Sacrifice brings more bluster and Deciever Of The Gods has Hegg unceremoniously removing Loke from the stage.

THE OLD & THE NEW

The mix of old and new is in perfect measure from Amon Amarth. New title track, The Allfather Awakes, sits brilliantly with the older run of songs that adorn the opening. Hermod’s Ride To Hel – Lokes Treachery Part 1 is striking in that it sees Hegg interacting with the songs protagonist on the video screen at the back. It gives a real cinematic quality to proceedings.

Put Your Back Into The Oar offers one of Amon Amarth’s party pieces, when the crowd ‘row’ the longship. The circle seats are fully in sync with heads moving back and forth in unison. People in the standing area sit down on the floor with strangers for their row. The cameras turn on the crowd, with people lapping up seeing themselves on show. We Rule The Waves is another new one, and the visuals that accompany it are even more spectacular. “You’re fucking Vikings!” hollers Hegg. Manchester really is in fine voice.

In a change of pace, the band light the campfire for Upphaf. As the band’s first ever fully acoustic cut, it forms a great part of the set and is a real highlight. In venues like this, the aesthetic works perfectly. It again shows how well the production is thought out. Similarly, One Thousand Burning Arrows sees the pyro subtely interacting with the screen. It is the little things, the attention to detail, that shows the step up in class.

GUARDIANS

The final third of the show raises the temparature further. Inflatable figures arrive at the back of the stage for a stupendous Guardians Of Asgaard. The song is dedicated to L G Petrov, the influentioal vocalist of Entombed who died in 2021.

On stage Viking battles play out as Amon Amarth deliver Sheild Wall, For Victory Or Death and a rousing version of Raise Your Horns. By this point, the O2 Apollo has come unglued. Saxons & Vikings sees a video appearance from Saxon’s Biff Byford to help with the song he guested on for The Great Heathen Army album in 2022. In traditional style, Twilight Of The Thunder God closes out the set, compelte with inflatable serpent. It is a brilliant end to a brilliant show that will undoubtedly please armies of fans across Europe.

Amon Amarth have truly become an elite level metal band. They’ve played some of the biggest stages all over the globe, and whilst the O2 Apollo isn’t an arena, it’s a pleasure to see this level of production in one of Manchester’s most famed venues. If you are seeing this tour in Europe, you are in for a complete treat.

Amon Amarth: Website

Orbit Culture: Website

Soilwork: Website

At The Barrier: Facebook / X / Instagram