Tiamat "Amanethes (Germany, Limited Edition Digipak, Nuclear Blast, NB 2013-0)"

Amanethes is the ninth studio album by Swedish gothic metal band Tiamat. It was released on May 2, 2008. The album was more positively received than Tiamat's previous releases, in part because of its return to their earlier metal sound in a few songs, while keeping the gothic rock in other songs.

Track listing:

All tracks by Johan Edlund except "Amanes" (lyrics by J. Edlund, music by J. Edlund & A. Iwers)

1. "The Temple of the Crescent Moon" – 5:33
2. "Equinox of the Gods" – 4:35
3. "Until the Hellhounds Sleep Again" – 4:07
4. "Will They Come?" – 5:13
5. "Lucienne" – 4:41
6. "Summertime Is Gone" – 3:53
7. "Katarraktis apo Aima" – 2:43
8. "Raining Dead Angels" – 4:18
9. "Misantropolis" – 4:13
10. "Amanitis" – 3:21
11. "Meliae" – 6:11
12. "Via Dolorosa" – 4:05
13. "Circles" – 3:45
14. "Amanes" – 5:30
15. "Thirst Snake" (digipack bonus track) - 5:00

"Amanethes" is a Greek-Turkish word, describing a type of very slow Eastern-oriented song that usually contains the word "aman". "Aman" can be translated as “show some understanding”, or it declares “pain” and "sadness". According to a 2008 interview with mainman Edlund, the title stands for "mourning songs, like elegies".

"Katarraktis apo Aima" (track 7) means "Waterfall of Blood" in Greek.

"Misantropolis" (track 8) merges the Greek words "misanthropia" ("misanthropy") and "polis" ("city").

"Meliae" (track 11) refers to the nymphs of the ash tree known as Meliae or Meliai in ancient Greek mythology.

The "Via Dolorosa" (track 12, "Way of Suffering" in Latin and Italian) is the street in Jerusalem where Jesus walked carrying his cross on the way to his crucifixion.

"Circles" (track 13) ends with a fading female voice that recites Corinthians 13:4-8 and 13:3 from the Bible.

This album marked Tiamat's return after 5 years. Tellingly, it opens with the lyrics "It's been a long time but we are here again / It's been five long years of thunder, lightning, and rain".

Recording information:

Recorded at The Mansion.

Drums recorded at Studio Mega.

Additionally recorded at Cue.

Outro vocals on "Equinox Of The Gods" recorded at Reiki Music.