Amon Amarth: Always One Step Ahead

When Amon Amarth arrived to the Heavy Metal spectrum, they immediately stomped the ground with lots of might and in a thick Scandinavian accent said: "we are here to kick your ass with some brutal chaotic Metal"! The band was formed in 1988 in Tumba, Sweden, but didn't catch their "break" until 1998 when their full length album titled "Once Sent from the Golden Hall" was released via Metal Blade Records. Ever since then, the band has been one of the most hard working bands in the world and without having a "commercial" sound, they have managed to gather a significant worldwide audience.

After barely missing the first train that carried the first wave of Swedish Death Metal with bands like Entombed and Dismember, the Swedish Metal Vikings jumped on board the second train and made it derail with their energetic, chaotic, well crafted music. Ever since then Heavy Metal has been a more dangerous and unpredictable genre.

What we've always liked about Amon Amarth is their ability to expand their musical style, without losing sight of their ultimate goal. They also possess a "signature sound", which is harder and harder to find these days. Their hard work and perseverance has recently been rewarded: the band recently hit the number 1 spot on the Billboard charts, and after the success of their "An Evening with Amon Amarth" tour all across North America, they have already announced a second leg of the tour (click for tour dates). We wouldn't be surprised if the band takes a Swedish Grammy next February in Stockholm.

Amon Amarth is:
Johan Hegg
Johan Söderberg
Olavi Mikkonen
Ted Lundström
Fredrik Andersson

Amon Amarth's Discography:

- Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds (1996)
- Once Sent from the Golden Hall (1998)
- The Avenger (1999)
- The Crusher (2001)
- Versus the World (2002)
- Fate of Norns (2004)
- With Oden on Our Side (2006)
- Twilight of the Thunder God (2008)
- Surtur Rising (2011)

Prior to their recent show at New York City's Best Buy Theater, we had the chance to interview Amon Amarth's bassist Ted Lundström about the past, the present, and the future of Amon Amarth! Hold on to your sits, because this is going to get dangerous! \m/



Special thanks to Amon Amarth, Metal Blade Records and Earsplit PR!

Photo credit: Betyouidid and Tania Gomez

Related links:
Official landing page for Surtur Rising
Amon Amarth's Official site
Metal Blade TV
Amon Amarth on Facebook
Follow Amon Amarth on Twitter
Amon Amarth on MySpace

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The Impact of Eyehategod

When it comes to bands that stand out for being unique while keeping their music simple, and that have managed to remain devoted to their craft regardless of the obstacles they have faced. The bands that are part of the New Orleans Heavy Music scene stand out for all of this and more. Think about when Hurricane Katrina hit the city of New Orleans and how every musician within the NOLA circuit of Heavy Music came together and helped each other out. This is because the musicians there treat each other like family and unlike most musical scenes, they created a scene around the people that surrounded them and not from a particular sound or style.

If there is a band that is living proof of all of this, it is Eyehategod. The band was founded on April 20, 1988 by Jimmy Bower and Joey LaCaze, who were joined by Mike Williams, Brian Patton and Steve Dale. Ever since their inception they have been a driving force within the Heavy Music scene in NOLA. Their sludge Metal became a trademark within Heavy Music worldwide and their unique sound is incomparable. Eyehategod's music is the result of a group of friends getting together in a jam room and writing some simple, heavy and balls out music!

If there is a city that has received Eyehategod with arms wide open time and time again, it is New York City (the bands strongest market). The band loves playing in New York so much, that within the last year they have performed three times in the city that never stops rocking.

At their most recent stop in New York, we did the most chaotic interview in Horns Up Rocks history! This serves us and them right, specially since the only way to define Eyehategod is by using the word chaos! During the interview we discussed the past, the present, and the future of the band, as well as the comradery of the band. We also discussed their new Live DVD which is coming out on March 22nd, as well as when the fans can expect a new Eyehategod album.

Without further due, here is the exclusive interview we did with Eyehategod at Club Europa in Brooklyn. We want to thank our friends at Earsplit PR for hooking us up!



Photographer: William Saunders

Related links:
Official Site of Eyehategod
Pre-order the Eyehategod Live DVD
Earsplit Compound

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