Artist: AMON AMARTH
Album: THE AVENGER DELUXE RE-ISSUE (2CD DIGI)

Year: 1999/ 2009
Media type: CD

AMON AMARTH are the band of the hour, not only in the extreme metal genre, but in metal music altogether! Their latest album “Twilight Of The Thunder God” went into the charts all over Europe (D: #6, AUT: #14, CH: #21, B: #71, NL: #87, UK: #126, FIN: #10, SWE: #11, NOR: #50, DK: #82), gained them a support slot on Slayer's Unholy Alliance 3 Tour and is going to secure sold-out venues all over the continent in March 2009.

The beauty of this success story is that metal vikings AMON AMARTH are living proof that hard work and perseverance can still pay off, even in times of short-lived trends. While other bands just disappear into oblivion after two not-so-successful albums, AMON AMARTH fough it out, got to the desired breakthrough with their fifth album “Fate Of Norns” and are now celebrating their most successful record ever – also in the USA – with album number seven.

Reason enough then to make their four early albums shine in a new light to present them to the fans who caught on to the band at a later date. After their glorious debut “Once Sent From The Golden Hall”, which was re-issued in February, it is now the turn for the equally legendary sophomore album “The Avenger” to be made available to the fans in a completely revamped version.

Originally released in 1999, it shows the Swedes getting closer to their trademark sound, refining their distinctive melodies. It also includes two true hits, “Bleed Fo Ancient Gods” and “The Last With Pagan Blood”, which are still regularly featured in the band's setlist even today.

The re-issue comes in a lavish 2CD digipack with an individual three-dimensional fold-out pop-up. All four digipack reissues add up to one big picture when put together. CD1 includes the remastered “The Avenger” album plus the bonus track “Thor Arise”. CD2 bears the same tracklist as CD1 (minus the bonus track), although as a live recording of the band's December 29, 2008 show as part of the “Bloodshed Over Bochum” concert series. Add to this a 16-page booklet with interesting liner notes.

This is every modern viking's wildest dream come true!

TRACKLIST CD:

1 Bleed for ancient god's
2 The last with pagan blood
3 North sea storm
4 Avenger
5 God, his son and holy whore
6 Metalwrath
7 Legend of a banished man
8 Thor arise*
* = BONUS TRACK

TRACKLIST BONUS-CD:
(live at Bloodshed over Bochum 29.12.2008)

1 Bleed for ancient god's
2 The last with pagan blood
3 North sea storm
4 Avenger
5 God, his son and holy whore
6 Metalwrath
7 Legend of a banished man

LINE-UP:

Guitar: Olli Mikkonen
Guitar: Johan Soderberg
Vocals: Johan Hegg
Drums: Frederik Andersson
Bass: Ted Lundstrom