Amon Amarth "Twilight Of The Thunder God (2CD+DVD, Limited Edition Boxed Set Digibook, Germany, Metal Blade Records, 3984-14693-0)"

Twilight of the Thunder God is the seventh studio album by the Swedish melodic death metal band Amon Amarth. Twilight of the Thunder God was released in September 2008. It is based on Thor's slaying of the serpent Jörmungandr.

In anticipation of this album, there was a series of studio diaries in the form of vlogs that discussed the recording process of this album in the studio. There were six vlogs recorded. The first focused on Fredrik Andersson recording the drums. The second vlog focused on Olavi Mikkonen recording the rhythm guitar position. The third blog focused on Ted Lundström recording bass guitar and band members preparing food. The fourth episode focused on Johan Hegg recording vocals. The fifth video was Johan Söderberg performing and recording guitar solos. The final vlog featured Olavi Mikkonen and Ted Lundström packing up the studio and a sneak peek of the album.

A series of 8-page comics were made during the production of the album, eponymously entitled "Twilight of the Thunder God", released in magazines throughout Europe.

On 27 June 2008, the title of this album was announced, it being "Twilight of the Thunder God". Twilight of the Thunder God features several guest appearances featuring Entombed vocalist Lars Göran Petrov on "Guardians of Asgaard", Children of Bodom and Stone guitarist Roope Latvala who contributes a solo on the track "Twilight of the Thunder God", and Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica as a guest appearance on "Live for the Kill".

Approximately a month later on 25 July 2008, the album artwork was revealed, featuring Thor, the Norse God of Thunder, in battle with Jörmungandr.

On 27 August 2008, Amon Amarth released the information that they had recently finished work on a video clip for the title track of the album. The video clip was shot in Jomsborg, Poland. The band notes that while they were there, a heavy storm came through the town, resulting in the roughest conditions the band has ever shot a music video in.

The album debuted at number 50 on the Billboard 200, and debuted at number 11 on the Swedish album charts. This makes the band's first album to chart on the top 200, and also the band's highest chart debut in their native country of Sweden, debuting 10 places higher than their previous release, With Oden on Our Side.

Initial critical response to Twilight of the Thunder God was positive. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 80, based on 5 reviews.

The album was ranked number six on Metal Hammer's Top 50 Albums of 2008.

Swedish power metal band Sabaton covered "Twilight of the Thunder God" as a bonus track on various renditions of their 2012 album Carolus Rex.

In 2013, Corvus Corax released a cover of "Twilight of the Thunder God" on their album Gimlie

In 2017, Swiss metal band Rage of Light released a cover version of "Twilight of the Thunder God".

In 2021, Feuerschwanz released a cover of "Twilight of the Thunder God" on the Deluxe Edition of their album Memento Mori.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Amon Amarth

1. "Twilight of the Thunder God" (featuring Roope Latvala) 4:09
2. "Free Will Sacrifice" 4:09
3. "Guardians of Asgaard" (featuring Lars-Göran Petrov) 4:23
4. "Where Is Your God?" 3:11
5. "Varyags of Miklagaard" 4:18
6. "Tattered Banners and Bloody Flags" 4:30
7. "No Fear for the Setting Sun" 3:54
8. "The Hero" 4:02
9. "Live for the Kill" (featuring Apocalyptica) 4:10
10. "Embrace of the Endless Ocean" 6:44

Total length: 43:34

Disc 2 (CD) - Summer Breeze Open Air 2007

1. Intro 02:38  
2. Valhall Awaits Me 04:48   
3. Runes to My Memory 04:45   
4. Cry of the Black Birds 04:34  
5. Asator 03:35  
6. Pursuit of Vikings 05:50   
7. Fate of Norns 06:50
8. Without Fear 04:31
9. With Oden on Our Side 04:47
10. Where Silent Gods Stand Guard 07:31   
11. An Ancient Sign of Coming Storm 04:56  
12. Victorious March 08:47  
13. Death in Fire 06:02

Time:  01:09:34

 

Disc 3 (DVD) - Summer Breeze Open Air 2007

1. Intro  
2. Valhall Awaits Me   
3. Runes to My Memory  
4. Cry of the Black Birds  
5. Asator   
6. Pursuit of Vikings  
7. Fate of Norns
8. Without Fear
9. With Oden on Our Side
10. Where Silent Gods Stand Guard   
11. An Ancient Sign of Coming Storm
12. Victorious March
13. Death in Fire  

Exclusive edition includes:

- Ltd. ed. 2 CD/DVD digibook

- Excl. hardcover Comicbook*

- A1 poster

- Excl. bobbleheads* of each Amon Amarth member

[* only available in this box set]

Recording information:

Disc 1:

Recorded at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden during May-June 2008.

Disc 2 and Disc 3:

Mixed at Offbeat Studio.