Amon Amarth
Could this be the performance of the year? After what went down in Manchester, it’s certainly in the running.
There are some gigs you walk away from knowing you’ve just seen something special, and AMON AMARTH’S first UK date of The Allfather Awakens tour in Manchester was definitely one of them.
Kicking things off with Gjallarhorn, there was no messing about. War of the Gods and Death in Fire followed, and from that point onwards, the Swedes barely gave anyone a chance to catch their breath. The set was relentless, but what really stood out was the sheer scale of the production. The pyro took everything up another level, with flames lighting up the stage and adding to the feeling that you were watching a Viking battle unfold in front of you.
One moment in particular summed up the night for me. As the flames shot up across the stage, hundreds of fans raised their horns into the air, creating an incredible sight. Standing there watching the fire light up the room, with the crowd united in that moment, was something else. It’s the kind of image that stays with you long after the gig is over, and for me, it was one of the biggest highlights of the night.
Free Will Sacrifice was a welcome inclusion, while Deceiver of the Gods and The Allfather Awakes kept the momentum going. One of the best things about the setlist was the balance between fan favourites and newer material. Amon Amarth have more than enough anthems to fill a headline set, but it was great to see them mixing things up, too. Hermod's Ride to Hel – Lokes Treachery, Part 1 brought something different, while Upphaf made its live debut which had the crowd erupting with cheers.
Then came the songs that really get a crowd going. Put Your Back Into the Oar had everyone getting involved, while Shield Wall delivered the huge riffs and energy you want from an AMON AMARTH show. Raise Your Horns was another highlight, bringing that feeling of everyone being part of something bigger. The appearance of Biff Byford on screen during Saxons and Vikings was a great touch, before Twilight of the Thunder God brought the main set to a massive finish.
What impressed me most was how well everything came together.
The band sounded huge, the setlist flowed brilliantly, and the production made the whole show feel like a proper spectacle. Nothing felt like they were simply going through the motions. AMON AMARTH knows exactly what they do best, and they delivered it in style.
Having seen plenty of shows this year, I’d genuinely put this one among the contenders for performance of the year so far. It’s a big claim, but Manchester gave them every reason to be in that conversation.
If this is how The Allfather Awakens tour starts, the rest of the UK is in for an absolute treat.
