On March 25th, Swedish metal kings Amon Amarth will unleash their 10th studio album, Jomsviking, via Metal Blade Records! Jomsviking the band s first concept record in their storied career tells a tragic tale of love and revenge, backed by the Swedes trademark melodic, anthemic metal, which was produced and mixed once again by Andy Sneap (Megadeth, Testament, Accept) and also features special guest session drummer Tobias Gustafsson (Vomitory). The epic original story is set in the world of the Jomsvikings, the legendary order of mercenary Vikings. As front-man Johan Hegg explains: The Jomsvikings were a shadowy and legendary sect of Viking mercenaries, as shrouded in myth now as they were when they fought across Europe and the Middle East. Ruthless and deadly warriors who fought for the highest bidder, their code was simple: Show no fear. Never retreat. Defend your brothers, and when called upon, avenge their deaths. I felt we were finally ready to use their story as the jumping off point for an Amon Amarth album. The Jomsvikings and their world is the background for the story of a young man that is in love with a girl but unfortunately she s being married off. He accidentally kills a man when this happens and he has to flee but he swears to have revenge and win her back. He feels that he s been wronged and his life has been destroyed. The way the story evolves is not a happy story.
By far their most ambitious project to date, fans can view the video for the album s first single, First Kill . Produced by Grupa 13 and directed by Darek Szermanowicz (Behemoth), First Kill was filmed in Gohrweide (Germany) and Warsaw (Poland) and features a cinematic depiction of the violent, brutal lyrics, along with powerful live footage of the band performing with their full dragon head and pyro stage-set.