Amon Amarth

MM: I know that you didn't actually come up with the label "Viking Metal," but how would you describe yourselves? Is that label misleading?
JH: I don’t think it’s a misleading label as such, but we’ve always said we play Death Metal. I wouldn’t really say we have a “Viking” image though that is the theme of the lyrics. I mean, it’s not like we dress up in Viking costumes on stage or anything.

MM: Were you overwhelmed with the popularity you received from "With Oden On Our Side," or were you confident that someday you would reach a higher status in the metal scene?
JH: Well, we knew we had a very good album – at least in our opinion – but one never knows how fans and media will react. Having said that, I don’t think we could’ve anticipated what a big impact this album would have on our career.

MM: Since hitting it big with "With Oden On Our Side," and now "Twilight of the Thunder God," have you been able to quit your day jobs and live somewhat comfortably now with just doing the Amon Amarth thing?
JH: Yeah, for the past three and a half years we’ve been focussing one hundred percent on the band. Basically we all had to quit our jobs around the time of writing “With Oden On Our Side” to be able to continue growing as a band. At first it was a bit shaky financially, but now it’s a bit more stable, although we’re not exactly millionaires or anything. We make enough to pay the bills and live a decent life.

MM: In the early days, what bands influenced you and at what age did you start getting into music?
JH: I’ve listened to metal for as long as I can remember, with such different bands such as AC/DC, KISS, MOTÖRHEAD, METALLICA, SLAYER, BLACK SABBATH, you know, the classics more or less, but I never really thought about getting into music until I was 19.

MM: You seem to truly love the live performance. With your commanding, tough-as-fuck stage presence, what do you get out of performing?
JH: Hahaha, yeah I love playing live shows! It’s the best fucking feeling there is to be up there screaming like hell. The best part is to hear the crowd reactions when you have a good show. Nothing really beats that feeling. Personally, I’ve always tried to enjoy myself on stage, and I really enjoy interacting with the fans.

MM: Singing like you do nightly, how do you protect your voice? Any vocal techniques or pre-show warm-ups?
JH: It’s hard sometimes; especially if we have a lot of shows in a row, but I have a few warm-up techniques I try to do before every show as well as a secret hot beverage I drink before and after the show.

MM: What's next for Amon Amarth after this European tour?
JH: We’re going down under for a few shows in Australia, and after New Year's Day we’ll see what happens.

MM: Any last comments for your fans?
JH: See you in October! We’ll have a few pints! Cheers!

Article by Kelley Simms