Raleigh
Amon Amarth, Goatwhore
Volume 11 TavernAmon Amarth comprises five Swedes, all under the age of 40, who render the Viking-heavy 11th century of their homeland like CNN Headline News. For more than a decade, Amon Amarth has integrated Norse mythology and history into an ever-refined and updated electric onslaught, the thunderous drums (indebted to Thor, of course) and suffocating walls of guitar (strong enough to defend Constantinople way back when) acting as the army at the back of menacing frontman Johan Hegg. What’s most riveting about the quintet is Hegg’s proletariat lyricismhe’s a servant of his gods and kings, hoping to die for his peopleand the melodic, sing-along delivery it inspires: In Hegg’s triumphant bellow, there’s something likable about the prospect of being a guardian of Asgaard or being a lowly Varyag defending “The Great City,” Constantinople. Amon Amarth’s obsession with absolute power comes only through the triumph of the masses, though, so they’ll expect a legion pumping fists and forming the chorus beneath some of the mightiest and most magnetic death metal around. Seriously, do you want dudes singing “Bearskin on my back/ Wolfjaw on my head/ Valhalla awaits me/ When I’m dead” wondering why you couldn’t make their gig? The excellent opening roster includes Bayou blackened thrashers Goatwhore, Skeletonwitch, Lazarus A.D. and Bloodsoaked. Pay $20 for the 7 p.m. showand Oden’s adoration. Grayson Currin
