Interview:

Q: How would you describe the new album?
A: (Johan Hegg) Like the old stuff, but better!

Q: How do you find time for your families?
A: (Johan Hegg) Only some of us are married, and for the rest of us it's not really a problem.
(Johan Söderberg) It's become a lot easier now since we began making enough money to be able to live off the band. This basically means we are free to do what we want when we get home from touring, except for when we record of course.

Q: For your four nights in a row concert, is there a special reason why you chose Bochum instead of for instance Stockholm?
A: (Johan Hegg) There are many reasons. For one, one of our crew members works at the place where we are going to play, so it was easier to book the place. Also, it is close to where our management is located, so logistically, it was much easier for the five of us to come down there, than to move everyone else up to Stockholm.
(Fredrik Andersson) Also, the place has a very cool layout. It feels very intimate, a good closeness between the band and the audience.

Q: You've done some good shows in the past together with the Jomsvikings. Are there any plans to continue this in some form in the future?
A: (Johan Hegg) We've really liked working with the guys in the Jomsvikings, and wouldn't mind doing something with them again someday. As for now, there are no set plans for anything though.
(Fredrik Andersson) Basically, it comes down to money and time. All these guys have regular jobs as well, and for us to do shows together, they both have to be able to get free time from these jobs, and families of course, and also get enough money to be able to afford it. It has very much to do with planning as well, everybody involved have to have some spare time at the same time as everybody else.
(Editor Note: the Jomsvikings also appear in the forthcoming video for Twilight Of The Thunder God, which was actually filmed at location in Jomsborg, home of the Jomsvikings in Poland)


Concert:

Mighty Amon Amarth once more entered the stage at Metalcamp, but all I (and probably many others) could think was; "Where are the vocals and guitars???" Someone had messed up badly in the sound mixer, although it was corrected after a while.
This, however, did nothing to stop the Swedish Vikings in their onslaught on the great mass assembled before them. Kicking off with Valhall Awaits Me, we all knew what was awaiting us. A one hour long trip with the dragon ship across the stormy seas to drench foreign shores with blood from our axes, spears and swords.

Amon Amarth went at it with all their might, and there wasn't a Viking horn in all the festival left un-raised. To put it simply, everyone loved the show, fans and band alike.
There was even one guy, don't ask me how, who managed to get up on the stage and jumped around there for a short time until the guards caught him and escorted him of the stage. Actually, we accidentally ran into him again later that evening while going back to our tents, where he asked if we had a spare wrist-band he could get, since they had cut his off. But that's another story...

Back at the show, Johan did a good job entertaining us between songs as well as with his vocal performance in them. He also ended the show with walking off stage for a short moment, only to return with one of the smallest camera's I have ever witnessed. Just because he wanted a picture of us all, he claimed. Well, I hope it was a good one, where you could see how much we had all enjoyed the show.

Setlist:

Valhall Awaits Me
An Ancient Sign Of Coming Storm
Asator
Fate Of Norns
Across The Rainbow Bridge
Death In Fire
Cry Of The Black Birds
Victorious March
Runes To My Memory
The Pursuit Of Vikings