AMON AMARTH Announces New Album 'The Allfather Awakens', Shares 'Gjallarhorn' Single

Swedish death metallers AMON AMARTH will release their new album, "The Allfather Awakens", on October 2 via Metal Blade Records. The 10-song masterwork further cements the legacy of the Swedish metal titans' spectacularly memorable riffs and unflinching melodic aural power.

For AMON AMARTH, a new album marks the beginning of a new world. As with previous records, Oden, the Norse "all father" who is a deity of war, wisdom, death, magic, and poetry, is the through-line in AMON AMARTH's lyrics and artwork. Once again, Oden is the band's inspiration, but "The Allfather Awakens" is not a concept album, rather a collection of historically inspired epic tales of conflict and sacrifice for a greater good.

Following the release of AMON AMARTH's first-ever acoustic excursion "Upphaf", the band has unleashed "The Allfather Awakens"'s opening track and epic tale of "Gjallarhorn". Where the stripped-back "Upphaf" carried the solemnity of an oral history whispered under the shadow of the Allfather, "Gjallarhorn" arrives as a furious AMON AMARTH classic. "Gjallarhorn"'s driving, upbeat guitar riff and high-tempo, catchy chorus fuse with a few surprises that ensure itself to be a future live staple.

To gain wisdom beyond mortal comprehension, Oden made the ultimate sacrifice — gouging out his own eye and casting it into the Well of Wisdom, Mímisbrunnr, in exchange for cosmic insight and foresight that would shape the fate of gods and men alike. Now, AMON AMARTH bring that ancient reckoning to life with "Gjallarhorn" — and they are extending Odin's offer to you. Those who received the eye know what must be done. Those who did not: seek it out. Sacrifice your sight. Gain your foresight.

AMON AMARTH took a new songwriting approach for "The Allfather Awakens", the band's 13th album since 1998's "Once Sent From The Golden Hall". The album came to life across two recording sessions, months apart, at producer Jacob Hansen's studio in Denmark. AMON AMARTH began writing songs while touring, rather than waiting until they were off the road. The first session was spring 2025; the final recording was completed in March 2026. The writing and recording process allowed the musicians to intensely focus on each track, resulting in an album where each song was treated as a single.

"We worked on one song at a time and made each song as good as possible," says guitarist Olavi Mikkonen. "Then we recorded one song at a time until each track was totally finished — drums, guitars, and vocals. Only then did we start on the next one."

Guitar-wise, AMON AMARTH opted for a slightly less modern approach sonically, moving away from 5150 amps and back to Marshalls. Music is written before lyrics, and often sets the tone for the words. The song that inspired the album title, "The Allfather Awakes", was the last written for the album. With Oden as the titular "Allfather", there is no shortage of historical influences heard across new songs like "Eight Legs Of Thunder", "Kvasir's Blood" and "Die With A War Cry", with the brutally beautiful lyrical rallying cry: "Facing destruction / Annihilation / Master your thoughts and mind." "The Allfather Awakens" cover art is a powerful portrait of Oden by Tom Thiel, who created seven of the quintet's album covers.

Over 30 years later, AMON AMARTH remains a band of brothers, and that loyalty and unity allow for harmony and a united front that conquers both the stage and record. Frontman Johann Hegg's powerfully rendered lyrics on "The Allfather Awakens" on "We Rule The Waves" sum up the band's unrelenting intent. "From cradle until the grave / As long as the sun sets in the west / We rule the waves / Our restless hearts / Have brought us far / As far as Vinland's shores / We've gone further / Than any man has ever gone before."

From AMON AMARTH's 1992 formation in Tumba, Sweden, to the worldwide fame they've found in the ensuing years, their lyrical, live and recorded musical legacy speaks for itself. Over the past few years the band have performed globally and alongside legendary acts such as SLAYER, IRON MAIDEN, SLIPKNOT and PANTERA, in addition to monumental takeovers of Los Angeles's The Forum and Denver's historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre, to name a few. Across seas, AMON AMARTH have headlined multiple major rock and metal fests including an epic performance at Germany's Wacken Open Air in 2024 for 85,000. Elsewhere on European soil, the Viking lords have twice headlined the U.K.'s storied Bloodstock Open Air festival, made four appearances at Download (2008 - 2019),and performed at Summer Breeze eight times (2003 - 2024),six of them as headliner.

Their rapidly increasing sales and touring numbers, plus pre-release buzz to AMON AMARTH's 2026 North American tour with DETHKLOK and CASTLE RAT, has managed to garner mainstream success without sacrificing either of their constantly evolving creativity or heaviness. Audience demographics run the gamut from pre-teens to 60-somethings, an inclusive metal experience for those who appreciate epic positivity and powerfully inspirational lyrics.

Their cultural influence cannot be overstated. To wit: The Row. The consensus is that the legendary "Viking row" by audience members first began during the 2009 AMON AMARTH set at Bloodstock. Fans get on the ground and, in unison, imitate rowing an invisible longship in a powerfully unifying experience. With the 2022 release of the single and video "Put Your Back Into The Oar", Hegg said, "we thought it was a good idea to write a song about The Row! This one is for you, the fans, wherever you are–and may Oden guide you as you row to your destiny in uncharted seas!"

Over the years the phenomenon has spread to other artists' concerts and global events including 2026 World Cup audiences — but thanks to video footage, it's safe to say AMON AMARTH audiences began the now-iconic trend.

"The Allfather Awakens" is yet another step up, introducing previously untried efforts, an impressive and conscious musical and lyrical feat after three decades of band-dom.

This autumn, "The Allfather Awakens" will take physical form on stage as the band unveils an entirely new production inspired by Oden's legendary Golden Hall, transforming their iconic concert experience into a living extension of the new album.

"The Allfather Awakens" track listing:

01. Gjallarhorn
02. Eight Legs Of Thunder
03. Kvasir's Blood
04. We Rule The Waves
05. Upphaf
06. Die With A War Cry
07. Raven God
08. The Allfather Awakes
09. Oden's Hunt
10. Ascending Like An Eagle

AMON AMARTH is:

Johan Hegg - Vocals
Olavi Mikkonen - Guitar
Johan Söderberg - Guitar
Ted Lundström - Bass
Jocke Wallgren - Drums

Photo credit: Sylwia Makris and Christian Martin Weiss