FROM THE CRYPTS - CELEBRATING PAST ALBUM RELEASES in the HISTORY of HARD ROCK & HEAVY METAL…
On November 18, 2002, Amon Amarth released their fourth full-length studio album Versus the World in Europe via Metal Blade Records (January 14, 2003 in the United States).
Background:
In April 2002 the band toured Europe with Vomitory and Callenish Circle, and also performed in August at Wacken Open Air before 12.000 metal fans. Following the tour, Amon Amarth entered Bern Studio in Malmo to record Versus The World. The album was engineered and mixed by Peter Tägtgren, and the albums cover art was created by Tom Thiel and Thomas Everhard. A music video was made for the song Death in Fire.
Versus the World was the first Amon Amarth album to showcase a more midpaced and heavy sound, unlike their earlier faster works.
When asked to comment on the album, vocalist Johan Hegg remarked;
“This is the darkest, heaviest and most melancholic album we've ever done and the atmosphere can be felt through the whole album. I would say it's the most even album we've done so far and that the concept can be recognized inevery song.” — Johan Hegg interview with The Metal Web
The Viking Edition of the album included a bonus CD featuring the Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds EP as well as their two demos; Thor Arise and The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter (the first being unreleased before) and a German version of Victorious March entitled Siegreicher Marsch which was on Once Sent from the Golden Hall.
A deluxe edition was released in 2009 that featured the album remastered by Jens Bogren, and a bonus CD of the original album played live in its entirety in Bochum, Germany.
(2009 Deluxe Edition)
Supporting Tour:
In early 2003 Amon Amarth took part in the Coalition For Musikal Armageddon North America Tour from March 9th until April 8th with Deicide on their North American tour. The tour also featured Behemoth, Revenge and Vehemence.
In early spring of 2003, Amon Amarth took part in the Metal Gods 2003 North American Tour with Halford, Testament, Immortal, Primal Fear, Carnal Forge, PainMuseum, and more. Touring continued up until Spring 2004.
Critical Reception:
In 2005, Versus the World was ranked No. 413 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.
In a review for AllMusic, Andy Hinds writes;
“With Versus the World, Amon Amarth return with another terrain flattening, Viking-obsessed death metal platter. Vocalist Johan Hegg alternates between a whispery low rumble and an upper-register shriek, both of which are surprisingly able to render the lyrics quite intelligible at times. What's possibly most impressive about Versus the World is the ebb and flow of the record; there is an engaging variety of moods, tempos, and textures that is lacking from the work of many similar bands. The songs are truly songs, which are thoughtfully arranged and manage to deliver melody, and even beauty, along with moments of extreme brutality.”
Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells
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