752. Amon Amarth / Twilight of the Thunder God. 2008. 2.5/5

I came on to Amon Amarth later than most, though I originally heard this album upon its release, and pretty much rejected it out of hand almost instantly. It wasn't until a few years later that i had cause to revisit the band and thus this album as well. What I discovered was that it wasn't as bad a I originally imagined it to be, though perhaps my recollections were of parts of the album rather than the whole.

Much of the music on this album is terrific. It may not be super technical, but for the most part it is catchy as hell. Simple but effective drumming drives each song along at the required speed. It's a great example of how drumming doesn't have to be filled with huge time changes or distributing drumsticks along eleventy-two toms to be a distinctive component of the songs on show. Of course, there is then the threat that if it is all generally the same throughout the album (and that could well be argued to be the case here) that it takes away the individuality of each song and makes them of a similar ilk. There are some great riffs here too, once again nothing on the overly technical side, but again effective throughout. Some of the solo breaks too are excellent. Much like the drumming though, sometimes too much of a good thing can be at the cost of the album's evenness. What may work in some places may not work in others.
There are some standout songs here. The title track "Twilight of the Thunder God" is a ripper, emphasising the best that Amon Amarth can muster. It is the best song here, which can be disconcerting when it is the first track on the album. Next best for me is the second song, "Free Will Sacrifice". So too "Varyags of Miklagaard ". From here though, something is lost and not recaptured for the rest of the album.
This is highlighted by some songs that are on the middle ground, such as "Guardians of Asgaard", "Where is Your God?" and "Tattered Banners and Bloody Flags", where the simplicity of the music probably outstays its welcome, not making them poor songs but only average ones. Through to the album's conclusion, it feels as though the band has decided that the formula has worked, and by sticking to it they can keep the listeners interest. Well, no, not really. Those things that are impressive at the start - Johan's amazing deep throated vocals, catchy guitar riffs and accompanying drum kicks, just don't carry the same weight in the second half of the album.

In summing up the album, I think after a terrific start it does tend to drift into a similar pattern, which can make you feel you are hearing nothing different. And this is a real shame, because it opens up with such promise with energy and aggression, which just seems to seep away by the middle of the album into a normalcy that is difficult to sustain, especially in a death metal album. Perhaps it is just another of those "it's not you, it's me" moments, where big fans of the band will see this as absolute rubbish. I can accept that on this occasion, because no matter how many times I have had this album on, by the time I reach "Tattered Banners and Bloody Flags", my interest has waned to the point of looking for the next album to listen to.

Rating:  Ragnarök awaits.  2.5/5