It would be easy and somewhat lazy to call Germany’s Asenblut (roughly meaning ‘Aesir’s blood’)  an Amon Amarth rip off, as they are a quality melodic death metal band with a little more black metal thrown in to their blood pumping, viking/pagan assault.

But fuck it, I’m lazy , so…..they are an Amon Amarth rip off. The stomping, epic riffs, the hulking front-man with gruff bellows, the viking themes? Yeah, they aren’t even subtle about it. I said it.

That said, they are a  really good one, and the comparison is fair. And to be honest, some of the material on Die Wilde Jagd (‘The Wild Hunt’) is often better than Amon Amarth‘s lazier efforts. I mean one listen to some of the tracks like the opening title track,  “Seite an Seite” (with a chorus that shares more than a little with Amon Amarth‘s “Raise Your Horns”, and has an extended version tacked on the end of the album), “Irminsul” or moodier “Drachentöterand” it’s hard not to think of Once Sent From the Golden Hall.

There are a few more black metal blasts here and there such as personal favorite “Codex Gigas”, “Penumbra” and “Wolfshunger” but they still generally reek heavily of their Swedish peers.  Truly, only the more traditional heavy metal stylings of “Weder Gott, noch Könige” or “300” do not have that full on, instantly familiar tone., though its still a little present.

But still, armed with a really powerful, beefy production (arguably netter than some of Amon Amarth‘s recent releases) from Jörg Uken (Aposento, Dew Scented, Sinister, God Dethroned, Weak Aside) and plenty of rousing, mead swilling, sword swinging tunes, Die Wilde Jagd  is a damn good album that I’m giving lots of listening time to. And they do say mimicry is the highest form of flattery, so Amon Amarth should be well and truly flattered by Asenblut and Die Wilde Jagd.

[Visit the band's website]

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