Swedish death metal band Amon Amarth recently released their ninth studio album via Metal Blade Records, entitled Deceiver of the Gods, which sold around 17,000 copies in the U.S. during its first week and continues to remain at the top of the Billboard charts.

Photo Credit: Owen Ela

Deceiver of the Gods was recorded at Backstage Studios in Derbyshire, United Kingdom, and produced, mixed, and mastered there as well, by well-respected metal producer Andy Sneap. The vast majority of tracks on the album are loud, abrasive, but still deeply melodic hymns of death and battle in Norse mythology, and vocalist Johan Hegg commands the attention of the listener with their ferociously aggressive, blistering guitar riffs and memorable melodies.

The darkly beautiful album art alludes to this thematically as well. It displays a dazzling illustration of Norse gods Loki and Thor in mid-battle, designed by artist Tom Thiel.

The band will play the main stage of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival 2013 in San Bernardino.

For a review of Amon Amarth’s stunning new release, click here, or if you wish to learn more about the album, this article will provide you with some background.