Amon Amarth
Sorrow Throughout The Nine Worlds (EP)

THE REVIEW

Jhoan Hegg (vocals), Olavi Mikkonen (guitar), Fredrik Andersson (drums), Ted Lundstrom (bass), and Jhoan Soderberg (guitars) in 1996 recorded "Sorrow Throughout The Nine Worlds", the debut EP (after 2 demos) of Amon Amarth, one of the finest revelations in heavy metal of the last 20 years. Amon Amarth are favored mainly because they are not the "usual" band playing death metal; their influences are much broader than those of bands like Cannibal Corpse or Six Feet Under. Amon Amarth's death metal puts a strong emphasis on melody, achieved through guitars that are far from the "death" guitars but much closer to classic heavy metal and even (in more melodic sections) to speed/power metal, power and melody combined, framed by drums that always go for super-fast rhythms bordering on thrash metal with a powerful growl that is neither morbid nor "heavy."
This mini-CD, while showcasing a band that still needs to refine and prepare for global success (which it later achieves), is an excellent effort and features 5 good tracks, notable especially for their anti-Christian lyrics (but not Satanist) nostalgic for the Viking world. The first track is the title track, a furious and fast piece with a strong, rough growl accompanied by a speed/thrash rhythm and highly melodic guitars with beautiful riffs, long enough (3 minutes and 51 seconds) and with decent solos, it's a worthy opener. "The arrival of the Fimbulwinter" starts with a hefty guitar riff and features drumming that in some parts of the song travels at lightning speed, among the best of the entire batch thanks to the beautiful work of the melodic guitars that blend perfectly with the song's structure. "Burning creation" is another good song, in its initial part reminiscent of the latest Slayer, once again a good job by the two axemen, in some sections, especially the growl, the song seems to take on the characteristics of a black metal track (another important influence of Amon Amarth). "The mighty doors of the Speargod's hall" increases the black influence of the previous song even if the guitars continue their melodic work that reduces the very brutal impact of the song, the drumming is slightly less fast than the other songs while still maintaining speed rhythms. In "Under the grayclouded winter sky" influences of Slayer and the thrash movement in general are felt by Andersson; however, in the entire structure, the song proves to be much more "relaxed" (if you'll pardon the term) than the other four), with exciting riffs (in the style of Grave Digger and Helloween's speed power) and driving drum lines.

In conclusion, even though it is an EP, "Sorrow Throughout The Nine Worlds" is a good work by an (at the time) emerging band that will soon become one of the best in Viking-melodic death metal.