Review of Amon Amarth - The Crusher

When the first song came through my speakers I was completely sucked in by the sheer authority in which it commanded. With a short intro consisting of a powerful chord structure then a short holdout, the double bass kicks in underneath a sick agonizing scream from singer Johan Hegg. Pummeling was the first word to come to mind. Then came in a desultory styled verse section that just seemed to carry the weight the name of the song held, Bastards Of A Lying Breed. You know you've met one or twenty in your lifetime, and listening to this song is a great way to release those negative feelings in a positive way. Then again, for me music has always done that. Whether listening, observing or playing, music has always been my link to sanity. Anyone agree? Amon Amarth has released two albums prior to The Crusher and all three have been recorded at none other than Abyss Studios (How many times have I written that?). This album unquestionably comes across with that Abyss type sound quality. I don't know if it's just me or what, but it seems Peter Tagtgren's work has that unique sound uncaptured by any other producer. That's not saying that he stands on top as king of the hill; I'm just saying his work is noticeable 9 times out of 10. With the exception of the vocals on The Crusher, it even reminds me of older Hypocrisy as well as At The Gates. The highlight on this album comes from the talent of drummer Fredrik Anderson. To my delight this likable feature is closely matched by the extreme melodic hook in the riffs. The rhythms are on the catchy side which makes listening to this album a pleasurable experience for the most part. I do, however, have one qualm with this album and it is a major one. As much as I like the first five songs on this album, I lose interest about midway through. Maybe I just need to start at track 6 next time and see if that changes things for me. The first half of this album is without question masterpiece material, and up to this point I haven't been able to pinpoint what it is about the album's latter half. The simplicity of it is that it just doesn't move me as much as it does coming out of the gate. Although I prefer Once Sent From The Golden Hall over this album, it still sits well with all the other metal crushers in my collection. The Crusher is well worth investigating, so if you have the time check it out.

Release Details

Amon Amarth

The Crusher

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