Amon Amarth – announce new album ‘The Allfather Awakens’ & release new single “Gjallarhorn”

AMON AMARTH announce The Allfather Awakens – a ten-song masterwork that further cements the legacy of the Swedish metal titan’s spectacularly memorable riffs and unflinching melodic aural power. The Allfather Awakens sees its release October 2 via Metal Blade Records.

For Amon Amarth, a new album marks the beginning of a new world. As with previous records, Oden, the Norse “all father” who is a deity of war, wisdom, death, magic, and poetry, is the through-line in Amon Amarth’s lyrics and artwork. Once again, Oden is the band’s inspiration, but The Allfather Awakens is not a concept album, rather a collection of historically inspired epic tales of conflict and sacrifice for a greater good.

Following the release of Amon Amarth’s first-ever acoustic excursion “Upphaf”, the band unleash The Allfather Awakens’ opening track and epic tale of “Gjallarhorn”. Where the stripped-back “Upphaf” carried the solemnity of an oral history whispered under the shadow of the Allfather, “Gjallarhorn” arrives as a furious Amon Amarth classic. Its driving, upbeat guitar riff and high tempo, catchy chorus fuse with a few surprises that ensure itself to be a future live staple.

To gain wisdom beyond mortal comprehension, Oden made the ultimate sacrifice – gouging out his own eye and casting it into the Well of Wisdom, Mímisbrunnr, in exchange for cosmic insight and foresight that would shape the fate of gods and men alike. Now, Amon Amarth bring that ancient reckoning to life with “Gjallarhorn”- and they are extending Oden’s offer to you. Those who received the eye know what must be done. Those who did not: seek it out. Sacrifice your sight. Gain your foresight.

Amon Amarth took a new songwriting approach for The Allfather Awakens, the band’s 13th album since 1998’s Once Sent From The Golden Hall. The album came to life across two recording sessions, months apart, at producer Jacob Hansen’s studio in Denmark. Amon Amarth began writing songs while touring, rather than waiting until they were off the road. The first session was Spring 2025; the final recording was completed in March 2026. The writing and recording process allowed the musicians to intensely focus on each track, resulting in an album where each song was treated as a single. “We worked on one song at a time and made each song as good as possible,” says guitarist Olavi Mikkonen. “Then we recorded one song at a time until each track was totally finished–drums, guitars, and vocals. Only then did we start on the next one.” Guitar-wise, Amon Amarth opted for a slightly less modern approach sonically, moving away from 5150 amps and back to Marshalls.

Music is written before lyrics, and often sets the tone for the words. The song that inspired the album title, “The Allfather Awakes,” was the last written for the album. With Oden as the titular “Allfather,” there is no shortage of historical influences heard across new songs like “Eight Legs Of Thunder,” “Kvasir’s Blood,” and “Die With A War Cry,” with the brutally beautiful lyrical rallying cry: “Facing destruction / Annihilation / Master your thoughts and mind.” The Allfather Awakens cover art is a powerful portrait of Oden by Tom Thiel, who created seven of the quintet’s album covers.   

Pre-Save / Pre-Order The Allfather Awakens Here

Over 30 years later, Amon Amarth remains a band of brothers, and that loyalty and unity allow for harmony and a united front that conquers both the stage and record. Frontman Johann Hegg’s powerfully rendered lyrics on The Allfather Awakens’ on “We Rule The Waves” sum up the band’s unrelenting intent. “From cradle until the grave / As long as the sun sets in the west / We rule the waves / Our restless hearts / Have brought us far / As far as Vinland’s shores / We’ve gone further / Than any man has ever gone before.” 

The Allfather Awakens Tracklist:

01. Gjallarhorn

02. Eight Legs Of Thunder

03. Kvasir’s Blood

04. We Rule The Waves

05. Upphaf

06. Die With A War Cry

07. Raven God

08. The Allfather Awakes

09. Oden’s Hunt

10. Ascending Like An Eagle