Versus the World (Amon Amarth album)
| Professional ratings |
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| Review scores |
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| Source | Rating |
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| 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
|
| 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 |
|
|
| 1. | "Siegreicher Marsch" (German version of "Victorious March") (Recorded during the Versus the World sessions) | 7:54 |
| 2. | "Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds" (Remastered) | 3:53 |
| 3. | "The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter" (Second demo) | 4:26 |
| 4. | "Burning Creation" | 4:59 |
| 5. | "The Mighty Doors of the Speargod's Hall" | 5:43 |
| 6. | "Under the Greyclouded Winter Sky" | 5:36 |
| 7. | "Burning Creation" (Demo) | 4:49 |
| 8. | "Arrival of the Fimbul Winter" (Demo) | 4:38 |
| 9. | "Without Fear" (Demo) | 4:42 |
| 10. | "Risen from the Sea" | 5:43 |
| 11. | "Atrocious Humanity" | 5:54 |
| 12. | "Army of Darkness" | 5:27 |
| 13. | "Thor Arise" (first demo) | 6:31 |
| 14. | "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" (Black Sabbath cover) | 4:22 |
| Total length: | 74:38 |
Release history
| Region |
Date |
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| Europe |
Nov 18, 02 |
| North America |
Mid Jan, 03 |
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Personnel
Band members
Other
- Engineered and mixed by Peter Tägtgren.
- Remastered by Henrik Larsson in September 2002.
- Cover by Tom Thiel and Thomas Everhard
References
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- Olavi Mikkonen
- Johan Hegg
- Ted Lundström
- Johan Söderberg
- Jocke Wallgren
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| Studio albums | |
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| EPs | |
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| Videos | |
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| Demos | |
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| Related | |
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