Paul already told us about Amon Amarth’s new album, Twilight of the Thunder God. Now the tracklist and the cover have been released, along with the information that a limited edition “Deluxe Collector’s” release will be available including an extra live CD and DVD of Amon Amarth’s 2007 appearance at Germany’s Summer Breeze festival. If a 3-disc set is not enough for you, try the even more limited (only 2000 pieces made) “Limited Bubblehead” release including the 2CD+1DVD collector’s edition plus bobble-head dolls of the band members and a 36-page comic. (No, I’m not making this up.)

Twilight of the Thunder God will be released September 17 in Sweden, shortly thereafter in the rest of Europe, and finally Sept 30 in North America.

They also have a North American tour planned for October supported by Ensiferum (FI), Belphegor (AT) and The Absence (US).

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Viking Metal is a subgenre that arose primarily in Sweden during the early 1990s, but has since spread throughout Europe and North America. While there are is huge variety within the subgenre, ranging from language to even the base style, the unifying factor between these bands is the use of Viking influenced themes in the lyrics. Amon Amarth are not the most famous of the myriad of bands occupying this genre, but I personally think that they are one of the best. Admittedly, I’m not a huge fan of their earlier work, but their last album (2006’s With Oden on our Side) is one of the best in the genre. Lots of bloody lyrics suitable for the bloodiest of Viking sagas along with an excellent melodic death metal base make a great combination, and what’s even better is that you can actually understand about 95% of Johan Hegg’s death growl vocals, which is definitely a rarety.

Now that I’ve (hopefully) got your interest, Amon Amarth have announed that they will be releasing a new album aimed at late summer of this year. Unfortunately there isn’t a lot of information released yet, but we do know it will be called Twilight of the Thundergod, that there will be 10 tracks, that the band entered the studio on the first of May, and the names of 3 of the songs: Guardians of Asgaard, Live for the Kill, Tattered Banners and Bloody Flags. Based on the excellence of the band’s last abum I’m expecting great things from Twilight, and eagerly anticipate its release!

Amon Amarth’s back catalogue should be available from most retailers (I know Futureshop in Canada carries at least some of their albums, A&B Sound will order them in for you, and of course Amazon carries all the albums) and naturally once Twilight is released it will be available from these sources as well.