Versus the World

While their fourth album is considered by some to be the Black Album of Viking metal (its sellout nadir) and by others to be its Back in Black (its purest, most pleasing distillation), there’s no denying that when Thor stand-ins Amon Amarth decided to take on the world they came fully armed. They loaded their longships with big hooks and crown-pleasing riffs while sharpening the more traditional melodic death metal blades in their weapon racks. Not much subtlety present in “Death by Fire” or “Across the Rainbow Bridge,” sure, but this is where they made raiding and pillaging fun for the entire clan. Plus, on the cover, a lone warrior literally prepares to fight the planet Earth.