Versus the World (Amon Amarth album)

Versus the World
Studio album by Amon Amarth
Released November 18, 2002
(see release history)
Recorded August 2002 (Berno Studio)
Genre Melodic death metal
Length 47:49
Label Metal Blade
Producer Berno Paulsson, Amon Amarth
Amon Amarth chronology

The Crusher
(2001)		 Versus the World
(2002)		 Fate of Norns
(2004)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Rock Hard (de) 9/10[1]
Allmusic [2]

Versus the World is the fourth full-length studio album by the Swedish death metal band Amon Amarth, released on November 18, 2002 by Metal Blade Records. It was also released with a bonus disc featuring the Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds EP as well as their two demos; Thor Arise, The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter (the first being unreleased before) and a German version of "Victorious March" entitled "Siegreicher Marsch" which was on Once Sent from the Golden Hall. The song "Death in Fire" was made into a music video. Versus the World was the first Amon Amarth album to showcase a more midpaced and heavy sound, unlike their earlier faster works. A deluxe edition was released in 2009 that featured the album remastered by Jens Bogren, and a bonus cd of the original album played live in its entirety in Bochum, Germany.

When asked to comment on the album, vocalist Johan Hegg remarked:-

“ This is the darkest, heaviest and most melancholic album we've ever done and the atmosphere can be felt through the whole album. I would say it's the most even album we've done so far and that the concept can be recognized in every song. ”

—Johan Hegg interview with The Metal Web

Reception

In 2005, Versus the World was ranked number 413 in Rock Hard magazine's book of The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time.[3]

Track listing

No. Title Length
1. "Death in Fire"   4:54
2. "For the Stabwounds in Our Backs"   4:56
3. "Where Silent Gods Stand Guard"   5:46
4. "Versus the World"   5:22
5. "Across the Rainbow Bridge"   4:51
6. "Down the Slopes of Death"   4:09
7. "Thousand Years of Oppression"   5:42
8. "Bloodshed"   5:13
9. "...And Soon the World Will Cease to Be"   6:57
Total length:
 47:49

Release history

Region Date
Europe Nov 18, 02
North America Mid Jan, 03

Personnel

Band members

Other

References

  1. ↑ "Rock Hard review". issue 187. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  2. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/r611719
  3. ↑ [...], Rock Hard (Hrsg.). [Red.: Michael Rensen. Mitarb.: Götz Kühnemund] (2005). Best of Rock & Metal die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten. Königswinter: Heel. p. 44. ISBN 3-89880-517-4.