Amon Amarth "With Oden On Our Side (Germany, Metal Blade Records, 3984-14584-2)"

With Oden on Our Side is the sixth full-length studio album by the Swedish death metal band Amon Amarth, and their first album to enter the Billboard charts, the Top Heatseekers and the Independent Albums chart, peaking at number 15 and number 26 respectively.

It was recorded in May and June 2006 and was released in Europe on 22 September 2006 by Metal Blade Records. A limited edition digipak was also released with a second disc that includes live songs, demos, and unreleased recordings. With Oden on Our Side was also released on a limited red LP. The songs "Runes to My Memory" and "Cry of the Black Birds" were both made into music videos, with the former being featured in the 2011 video game Saints Row: The Third by developer Volition.

With Oden on Our Side takes on a heavier approach compared to their previous album Fate of Norns; according to vocalist Johan Hegg, in an interview with Dutch metal magazine Aardschok, the album would go back to their roots such as their debut, Once Sent from the Golden Hall. When asked about the meaning of the album's title, Hegg remarked:

Well, it kind of has several meanings to it. Oden is, of course, the highest god in Scandinavian mythology, and he's the god of warfare, wisdom, poetry, and artistry. The reason we chose the title is that it suited the lyrical concepts of the album and signified the feeling we had during the writing and recording of the album. We literally felt as if we had the Gods on our side.

— PyroMusic interview with Johan Hegg

The album cover art features the Norse God Odin riding on his fabled octopedal horse Sleipnir in a depiction borrowed from the Tjängvide image stone. The background depicts the Valknut, a symbol whose meaning is uncertain, though archeological evidence suggests it to be associated with Odin. Letters of the Runic alphabet can be seen on the edges of the triangles forming the Valknut. The Runes on top spell out "With Oden on our Side", whereas the bottom right runes spell "Amon Amarth" using characters from the Elder Futhark.

Since its release, With Oden on Our Side has received favorable reviews. Greg Prato of AllMusic gave the album three and a half stars naming it a competent example of the melodic death metal genre, stating that Johan Hegg's vocals complement the Iron Maiden-esque guitar riffing from Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg. Blabbermouth.net gave With Oden on Our Side a score of 8 out of 10 comparing its quality to that of Versus the World and Fate of Norns.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Amon Amarth

1. "Valhall Awaits Me" 4:44
2. "Runes to My Memory" 4:33
3. "Asator" 3:04
4. "Hermod's Ride to Hel - Lokes Treachery Part 1" 4:41
5. "Gods of War Arise" 6:03
6. "With Oden on Our Side" 4:35
7. "Cry of the Black Birds" 3:50
8. "Under the Northern Star" 4:17
9. "Prediction of Warfare" 6:37

Total length: 42:17

Music videos:

• Runes to My Memory

• Cry of the Black Birds

Track 4 is labeled on all the CD and LP releases "Hermod's Ride to Hel - Lokes Treachery Part 1", while the 2010 compilation Hymns to the Rising Sun has the correct spelling ("Loke's Treachery") as well as the second part of the composition hosted on the 2011 full-length Surtur Rising, "Töck's Taunt - Loke's Treachery Part II".

Recording information:

Recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden. May and June 2006.

Mastered at Cutting Room, Stockholm.