The compositions are, relatively speaking, rather simplistic in structure by following the traditional verse/chorus pattern, but grossly effective at what they do. Surtur Rising certainly isn’t broken, quite the opposite actually. As the old idiom goes, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Why? Well, there’s something about Amon Amarth’s formula that is deceptively simple and effective, lining up chorus and verse of alternating chord progressions and simple melodies that are shrouded under a veil of Viking glory that thousands around the world will eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and for the past thirteen years they have. In fact, it seems that Amon Amarth’s fanbase may be the least picky out of any in the metal world, putting up with album after album of basically the same songs re-arranged in a different way, while fellow melodic death metal bands such as Insomnium get vehemently torn apart for releasing only four albums in the same vein.

Surtur Rising, the band’s 8th LP, should surprise no one who has heard even one of Amon Amarth’s past releases, but also shouldn’t be despised by those who enjoyed any of their previous albums. It is interesting that, 13 years and seven albums since the release of 1998’s Once Sent From The Golden Hall, Amon Amarth are almost exactly the same band they were back then. Review Summary: Another unsurprising album from perhaps metal's most unsurprising band, and that is all that could ever be asked of Amon Amarth

Amon amarth surtur rising