Amon Amarth: Deceiver of The Gods Tour with Sabaton
& Skeletonwitch – Riverside, CA – 09/14
by John Knowles
The mighty AMON AMARTH have hit the road again in support of their latest release, Deceiver of the Gods, this time conquering North America! For this leg of the tour the band has brought along fellow Swedes, Sabaton. To my surprise this turned out to be a very good fit for the tour. Even on stage, Sabaton band leader, Joakim Brodén acknowledged that their brand of more traditional heavy metal might seem a bit out of place, but as it turns out if you are on a bill with Amon Amarth, having lyrics that deal exclusively with war fits nicely alongside the Norse mythology shtick. Additionally, Skeletonwitch are once again on the road as opening support for Amon Amarth. Skeletonwitch just completed a North American headlining tour of their own – the turnaround time from their recent SoCal dates was almost non existent as this night, Spetmeber 25, 2014 was opening night of the tour, and each band took the stage with a “take no prisoners” attitude!
There’s been a recent influx of metal bands performing in Riverside, California of all places. The Riverside Fox Theater is back in full force, and now the Riverside Municipal Auditorium appears to be the new flagship of the Inland Empire concert market. There is definitely a great vibe when you enter this place. The older architecture within Riverside’s most historic region no doubt lends itself well to darker music. A DJ was set up in the courtyard of the venue blaring the best from yesterday and today’s metal giants. Honestly, the music outside seemed louder than the band’s performances on the inside! What a way to welcome the fans, and keep those waiting or having a smoke well entertained. The inside of the venue features a large GA floor section, with a decent sized row of seats behind the floor. A balcony section is also available overhead, almost reminiscent of an old theater not unlike the Fox. However, the Auditorium is just that...an auditorium! This is a place where town halls would take place, and important judicial decisions would be made. Tonight, however, this was a place where the free people’s of the metal world would gather, and salute their metal heroes!
The place had already filled out pretty nicely by the time Skeletonwitch took the stage promptly at 7:30. What happened next was an onslaught of pure heavy metal aggression for the next 30 minutes, kicking things off with “More Cruel Than Weak.” A bit of constructive feedback for the venue: The sound quality could be dramatically improved, but from the photo pit all of the nuances of this band were heard loud and clear. Bassist Evan Linger was the highlight of the band for me this evening, showcasing a truly menacing tone in the vein of the late Cliff Burton. Lead vocalist Chance Garnette really knows how to take control of a crowd, as his aggressive vocal styling must have brought chills to new listeners. Having seen this band a couple years ago, and then finally witnessing them again tonight it is clear that Skeletonwitch are on a path to the top. Their Facebook page just keeps growing and growing, and they even had a good deal of chanting prior to taking the stage. It’s refreshing to hear a Midwest band of this caliber, completely void of any deathcore cliché. Skeletonwitch brought their brand of blackened, thrash/death metal with all they had, and it was very well received. These guys demonstrated that they are the perfect fit for an Amon Amarth tour. “Within My Blood” ended things, and I have to say the guitarmony section at the end has a crescendo that really has to be experienced live to believe. Truly killer stuff, and I hope to see these guys on tour again soon.
Setlist:
More Cruel Than Weak
I Am of Death (Hell Has Arrived)
From A Cloudless Sky
Burned From Bone
Beyond The Permafrost
Unending, Everliving
Stand Fight And Die
Serpents Unleashed
Within My Blood
Visit the OFFICIAL Skeletonwitch page here.
BUY Serpents Unleashed here.
Check out the OFFICIAL Serpents Unleashed album stream on YouTube here.
Now officially touring the U.S. for their latest release, Heroes, Sabaton took the stage promptly at 8:15 and delivered an amazing 9-song set. As always the guys brought with them an unmatched energy and conviction in their playing. Say what you will about a “power metal” band touring with Amon Amarth, but these guys truly delivered. The notably heavier set from their recent trek with Iced Earth did not go unnoticed, as the band seemed to connect with fans young and old, throughout the entire venue. The usual on stage banter was there, and lead vocalist Joakim again captivated a crowd with his wit and charisma. “Ghost Division” opened things up, and immediately you could feel just how well these guys can win over an audience. It may be fair to say that many in attendance this evening were there only for Sabaton, as droves of fans could be seen together with flags, and excited chants in unison. Having seen the very moving display of respect and appreciation for their younger fans that I’ve witnessed on their last couple tours, it was no surprise that another 6 year old was brought on stage for “Metal Crüe” to close out the night. I’m curious if this is something they do on every stop, but I hope that there is just something special to the band about the SoCal crowd, as potentially evidenced by their upcoming headlining date at the Whisky on November 10th. For a shorter set the band performed two songs from Heroes, which seems more than fair. Other notable crowd favorites this evening included “40:1” and the very appropriate “Swedish Pagans.”
Setlist:
Ghost Division
To Hell and Back
Carolus Rex
40:1
Swedish Pagans
Resist and Bite
Art of War
Primo Victoria
Metal Crüe
Visit the OFFICIAL Sabaton page here.
BUY Heroes here.
Official Music Video for “To Hell And Back”
Amon Amarth’s latest full-length, Deceiver Of The Gods, was released in June of 2013. The album debuted at #19 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, making it the band’s highest-charting album to date. These facts were explicitly clear once the band hit the stage. Each time I see this band they draw a larger and larger crowd, and if the size of the circle pit during their second song, “Deceiver of the Gods” is any indication, I’d say Amon Amarth received a very welcoming opening night, and may have found another home away from home with Riverside, California. Before the band even hit the stage I was pretty much mesmerized by the band’s backdrop featuring a very large image of their latest album cover. Standing below the battleground of Thor and Loke are smaller gear backdrops depicting the undead army of Loke – very cool stuff that served as a fitting background to every song in the set. The band’s opening track brought the level of anticipation this evening to its peak. The band hit the stage and ripped through their two most recent singles, “Father of the Wolf” and “Deceiver of the Gods.” “Death in Fire” followed, while the circle pit dwindled slightly...I guess 2002 is a little too far back for some of the younger fans. The band wisely performed “Live for the Kill” next to bring the full energy of the room back to full force.
A rewarding 17-song set ensued, as the band touched on all of their classics from their impressive 9 album catalogue. The new album was well supported, as was With Oden On Our Side, Twilight of the Thunder God, and Surtur Rising. Admittedly, the band didn’t deliver any real surprises, and the Viking Ship was surely missed (New York fans will get their opportunity on this tour), but Amon Amarth delivered on what they do best, and an impressive encore featuring “Twilight of the Thunder God” and “The Pursuit of Vikings” ended the night on a very high note.
To fully appreciate any of the bands on this tour, you must see them live. These guys know how to bring it, and will surely not disappoint. Hands down, one of the best metal bills of the year.
Setlist:
Father of the Wolf
Deceiver of the Gods
Death in Fire
Live for the Kill
As Loke Falls
We Shall Destroy
Fate of Norns
Varyags of Miklagaard
Under the Northern Star
Guardians of Asgaard
Shapeshifter
Warriors of the North
Destroyer of the Universe
Cry of the Blackbirds
War of the Gods
Twilight of the Thunder God
The Pursuit of Vikings
Visit the OFFICIAL Amon Amarth page here.
BUY Deceiver of the Gods here.
Check out the epic music video for “Father Of The Wolf” here.
Official music video for “Deceiver of the Gods”
Upcoming Tour Dates:
AMON AMARTH:
w/ Sabaton, Skeletonwitch
9/26/2014 The Catalyst – Santa Cruz, CA
9/27/2014 Ace of Spades – Sacramento, CA
9/29/2014 Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR
9/30/2014 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
10/01/2014 Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
10/03/2014 Union Hall – Edmonton, AB
10/04/2014 Flames Central – Calgary, AB
10/05/2014 Louis’ Pub – Saskatoon, SK
10/06/2014 The Garrick – Winnipeg, MB
10/07/2014 Crocks – Thunder Bay, ON
10/10/2014 The Sound Academy – Toronto, ON
10/11/2014 Metropolis – Montreal, QC
10/12/2014 Imperial – Quebec City, QC
10/14/2014 Higher Ground – Burlington, VT
10/15/2014 Webster Theatre – Hartford, CT
10/17/2014 Upstate Concert Hall – Albany, NY
10/18/2014 Best Buy Theatre – New York , NY *
10/19/2014 Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH
10/21/2014 Track 29 -Chattanooga, TN
10/22/2014 Bijou Theater -Knoxville, TN
10/24/2014 The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC
10/25/2014 Freebird – Jacksonville, FL
10/26/2014 Iron City – Birmingham, AL
10/27/2014 The Civic – New Orleans, LA
10/29/2014 The Pageant – St. Louis, MO
10/30/2014 Mojoes – Jolie, IL
10/31/2014 Royal Oak – Detroit, MI
11/01/2014 The Eagles Club – Milwaukee, WI
11/02/2014 Wooly’s – Des Moines, IA
11/04/2014 Bourbon Stree – Lincoln, NE
11/05/2014 Diamond Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK
11/07/2014 Fun Fun Fun Fest – Austin, TX
11/08/2014 Tricky Falls – El Paso, TX
11/09/2014 Club XS – Tucson, AZ
* no Skeletonwitch
by John Knowles
The mighty AMON AMARTH have hit the road again in support of their latest release, Deceiver of the Gods, this time conquering North America! For this leg of the tour the band has brought along fellow Swedes, Sabaton. To my surprise this turned out to be a very good fit for the tour. Even on stage, Sabaton band leader, Joakim Brodén acknowledged that their brand of more traditional heavy metal might seem a bit out of place, but as it turns out if you are on a bill with Amon Amarth, having lyrics that deal exclusively with war fits nicely alongside the Norse mythology shtick. Additionally, Skeletonwitch are once again on the road as opening support for Amon Amarth. Skeletonwitch just completed a North American headlining tour of their own – the turnaround time from their recent SoCal dates was almost non existent as this night, Spetmeber 25, 2014 was opening night of the tour, and each band took the stage with a “take no prisoners” attitude!
There’s been a recent influx of metal bands performing in Riverside, California of all places. The Riverside Fox Theater is back in full force, and now the Riverside Municipal Auditorium appears to be the new flagship of the Inland Empire concert market. There is definitely a great vibe when you enter this place. The older architecture within Riverside’s most historic region no doubt lends itself well to darker music. A DJ was set up in the courtyard of the venue blaring the best from yesterday and today’s metal giants. Honestly, the music outside seemed louder than the band’s performances on the inside! What a way to welcome the fans, and keep those waiting or having a smoke well entertained. The inside of the venue features a large GA floor section, with a decent sized row of seats behind the floor. A balcony section is also available overhead, almost reminiscent of an old theater not unlike the Fox. However, the Auditorium is just that...an auditorium! This is a place where town halls would take place, and important judicial decisions would be made. Tonight, however, this was a place where the free people’s of the metal world would gather, and salute their metal heroes!
The place had already filled out pretty nicely by the time Skeletonwitch took the stage promptly at 7:30. What happened next was an onslaught of pure heavy metal aggression for the next 30 minutes, kicking things off with “More Cruel Than Weak.” A bit of constructive feedback for the venue: The sound quality could be dramatically improved, but from the photo pit all of the nuances of this band were heard loud and clear. Bassist Evan Linger was the highlight of the band for me this evening, showcasing a truly menacing tone in the vein of the late Cliff Burton. Lead vocalist Chance Garnette really knows how to take control of a crowd, as his aggressive vocal styling must have brought chills to new listeners. Having seen this band a couple years ago, and then finally witnessing them again tonight it is clear that Skeletonwitch are on a path to the top. Their Facebook page just keeps growing and growing, and they even had a good deal of chanting prior to taking the stage. It’s refreshing to hear a Midwest band of this caliber, completely void of any deathcore cliché. Skeletonwitch brought their brand of blackened, thrash/death metal with all they had, and it was very well received. These guys demonstrated that they are the perfect fit for an Amon Amarth tour. “Within My Blood” ended things, and I have to say the guitarmony section at the end has a crescendo that really has to be experienced live to believe. Truly killer stuff, and I hope to see these guys on tour again soon.
Setlist:
More Cruel Than Weak
I Am of Death (Hell Has Arrived)
From A Cloudless Sky
Burned From Bone
Beyond The Permafrost
Unending, Everliving
Stand Fight And Die
Serpents Unleashed
Within My Blood
Visit the OFFICIAL Skeletonwitch page here.
BUY Serpents Unleashed here.
Check out the OFFICIAL Serpents Unleashed album stream on YouTube here.
Now officially touring the U.S. for their latest release, Heroes, Sabaton took the stage promptly at 8:15 and delivered an amazing 9-song set. As always the guys brought with them an unmatched energy and conviction in their playing. Say what you will about a “power metal” band touring with Amon Amarth, but these guys truly delivered. The notably heavier set from their recent trek with Iced Earth did not go unnoticed, as the band seemed to connect with fans young and old, throughout the entire venue. The usual on stage banter was there, and lead vocalist Joakim again captivated a crowd with his wit and charisma. “Ghost Division” opened things up, and immediately you could feel just how well these guys can win over an audience. It may be fair to say that many in attendance this evening were there only for Sabaton, as droves of fans could be seen together with flags, and excited chants in unison. Having seen the very moving display of respect and appreciation for their younger fans that I’ve witnessed on their last couple tours, it was no surprise that another 6 year old was brought on stage for “Metal Crüe” to close out the night. I’m curious if this is something they do on every stop, but I hope that there is just something special to the band about the SoCal crowd, as potentially evidenced by their upcoming headlining date at the Whisky on November 10th. For a shorter set the band performed two songs from Heroes, which seems more than fair. Other notable crowd favorites this evening included “40:1” and the very appropriate “Swedish Pagans.”
Setlist:
Ghost Division
To Hell and Back
Carolus Rex
40:1
Swedish Pagans
Resist and Bite
Art of War
Primo Victoria
Metal Crüe
Visit the OFFICIAL Sabaton page here.
BUY Heroes here.
Official Music Video for “To Hell And Back”
Amon Amarth’s latest full-length, Deceiver Of The Gods, was released in June of 2013. The album debuted at #19 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, making it the band’s highest-charting album to date. These facts were explicitly clear once the band hit the stage. Each time I see this band they draw a larger and larger crowd, and if the size of the circle pit during their second song, “Deceiver of the Gods” is any indication, I’d say Amon Amarth received a very welcoming opening night, and may have found another home away from home with Riverside, California. Before the band even hit the stage I was pretty much mesmerized by the band’s backdrop featuring a very large image of their latest album cover. Standing below the battleground of Thor and Loke are smaller gear backdrops depicting the undead army of Loke – very cool stuff that served as a fitting background to every song in the set. The band’s opening track brought the level of anticipation this evening to its peak. The band hit the stage and ripped through their two most recent singles, “Father of the Wolf” and “Deceiver of the Gods.” “Death in Fire” followed, while the circle pit dwindled slightly...I guess 2002 is a little too far back for some of the younger fans. The band wisely performed “Live for the Kill” next to bring the full energy of the room back to full force.
A rewarding 17-song set ensued, as the band touched on all of their classics from their impressive 9 album catalogue. The new album was well supported, as was With Oden On Our Side, Twilight of the Thunder God, and Surtur Rising. Admittedly, the band didn’t deliver any real surprises, and the Viking Ship was surely missed (New York fans will get their opportunity on this tour), but Amon Amarth delivered on what they do best, and an impressive encore featuring “Twilight of the Thunder God” and “The Pursuit of Vikings” ended the night on a very high note.
To fully appreciate any of the bands on this tour, you must see them live. These guys know how to bring it, and will surely not disappoint. Hands down, one of the best metal bills of the year.
Setlist:
Father of the Wolf
Deceiver of the Gods
Death in Fire
Live for the Kill
As Loke Falls
We Shall Destroy
Fate of Norns
Varyags of Miklagaard
Under the Northern Star
Guardians of Asgaard
Shapeshifter
Warriors of the North
Destroyer of the Universe
Cry of the Blackbirds
War of the Gods
Twilight of the Thunder God
The Pursuit of Vikings
Visit the OFFICIAL Amon Amarth page here.
BUY Deceiver of the Gods here.
Check out the epic music video for “Father Of The Wolf” here.
Official music video for “Deceiver of the Gods”
Upcoming Tour Dates:
AMON AMARTH:
w/ Sabaton, Skeletonwitch
9/26/2014 The Catalyst – Santa Cruz, CA
9/27/2014 Ace of Spades – Sacramento, CA
9/29/2014 Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR
9/30/2014 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
10/01/2014 Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
10/03/2014 Union Hall – Edmonton, AB
10/04/2014 Flames Central – Calgary, AB
10/05/2014 Louis’ Pub – Saskatoon, SK
10/06/2014 The Garrick – Winnipeg, MB
10/07/2014 Crocks – Thunder Bay, ON
10/10/2014 The Sound Academy – Toronto, ON
10/11/2014 Metropolis – Montreal, QC
10/12/2014 Imperial – Quebec City, QC
10/14/2014 Higher Ground – Burlington, VT
10/15/2014 Webster Theatre – Hartford, CT
10/17/2014 Upstate Concert Hall – Albany, NY
10/18/2014 Best Buy Theatre – New York , NY *
10/19/2014 Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH
10/21/2014 Track 29 -Chattanooga, TN
10/22/2014 Bijou Theater -Knoxville, TN
10/24/2014 The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC
10/25/2014 Freebird – Jacksonville, FL
10/26/2014 Iron City – Birmingham, AL
10/27/2014 The Civic – New Orleans, LA
10/29/2014 The Pageant – St. Louis, MO
10/30/2014 Mojoes – Jolie, IL
10/31/2014 Royal Oak – Detroit, MI
11/01/2014 The Eagles Club – Milwaukee, WI
11/02/2014 Wooly’s – Des Moines, IA
11/04/2014 Bourbon Stree – Lincoln, NE
11/05/2014 Diamond Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK
11/07/2014 Fun Fun Fun Fest – Austin, TX
11/08/2014 Tricky Falls – El Paso, TX
11/09/2014 Club XS – Tucson, AZ
* no Skeletonwitch
