Saturday nights in Hammersmith don’t get much better than this. We have a perfect trifecta of Swedish metal on the bill tonight as Viking metal stalwarts Amon Amarth return to London following the release of their new album, supported by melodic death metal veterans Orbit Culture and Soilwork.
Opening the evening, Soilwork waste no time in getting the crowd warmed up, opening with The Nurturing Glance. These guys are just top of their game and after so long in the business, they deliver with clinical excellence. The riffs are strong, the drums are crushing, and I remain to be convinced that there is a better metal vocalist out there than Björn Strid.
His range and versatility is absolutely phenomenal and he powers through their setlist with finesse. Being the opener, their set isn’t long which is a shame because they put on a fantastic live show and they have so many great songs in their catalogue. The setlist doesn’t disappoint though and we are treated to a nice range of songs including Distortion Sleep and Death Diviner which are instant crowd pleasers. Ending strong with Stabbing the Drama, Soilwork show they are still more than capable of the rousing, charismatic performances we know and love them for.
Orbit Culture are on next and it’s fantastic to see them back in the UK again following their thundering performance at Bloodstock this year. There are a lot of Orbit Culture t-shirts visible here this evening reflecting their popularity. Arriving on stage in near darkness, no one can argue that they are not absolute masters at crafting atmosphere. However this current trend of bands going for a light show that makes it seem as though they don’t want the audience to actually see them makes me a little sad. Don’t get me wrong it does look fantastic. But guys, please – we love your music and we want to see you! Redfog is such a blistering opener that this doesn’t phase the crowd, who start the ritual unprompted. The pit opens immediately and there are crowd surfers flowing over the barrier for the duration.
Setlist wise, we are treated to a well thought out mix of songs including The Storm, Tales of War, Hydra and an absolutely brutal rendition of While We Serve. Their sound is just absolutely massive; full and deep with their beautiful signature tonality. The guitars are monumental; absolutely crushing in terms of riffs, tone and volume. The Eventim Apollo definitely had its cobwebs cleared after that. Ending with Vultures of the North, there is yet again the distinct vibe that people want more. It’s not that the set is too short or that it was lacking in any way, it’s just that all three bands on this bill are so good that any of them could have been the main draw.
Finally, tonight’s headliners Amon Amarth take to the stage and they instantly display why they are masters of their genre. When you hear the term “Viking Metal” you think Amon Amarth – no one else does it like they do. They have brought everything tonight, from stage backdrops straight out of Asgard to insane pyrotechnics, sword fighting Vikings and even a campfire sing along. They pump the crowd up nicely with their intro song Run to The Hills which guarantees a collective sing along before their runic curtain falls dramatically and they tear into Gjallarhorn.
By the second song we already have an array of pyrotechnics firing off in all directions and the stage is ablaze as Johan Hegg roars through War of the Gods. The sound is immaculate this evening and the showmanship is top notch; it’s exactly what the doctor ordered. There are metalheads of all ages in the crowd having an absolute ball whether just watching, singing along, or going full berserker mode in the pit.
The intricate Nordic imagery, elaborate backdrops and intense pyro are by no means style over substance either. The setlist is again a nice mix, with a few songs from the new album woven in with the classics. It’s nice to see that they haven’t deviated from their classic style and the signature riffs are as strong as ever.
The atmosphere is alive; the crowd are so in the game that they begin overly enthusiastically rowing even before instructed during Put Your Back Into The Oar, much to the amusement of the band – with Hegg remarking how much they love to play in the U.K. for this exact reason. Ending with Twilight of the Thunder God, Amon Amarth have proven tonight that the appetite for Viking metal shows no sign of waning, and thank Odin for that! Because more than anything else, their sets are pure, participatory FUN that everyone can revel in the epicness of.
Words and images: Kate Elfström
