Amon Amarth performing in San Francisco, CA at The Warfield Theater on May 20, 2016. Photo: Jared Stossel.

To say that seeing a band like Amon Amarth live was exhilarating would be a severe understatement. I remember hearing of them once before and briefly passing the stage when they performed at the Rockstar Mayhem Festival a couple years ago. If I remember correctly, they played with a gigantic viking ship as their stage prop. I couldn't believe it, and it was a shit ton of fun to watch, even for just that minute or so. I finally got to see this band perform live, headlining, and I can promise you that they did not disappoint. I'm not sure if the show was sold out, but it was damn close.

Amon Amarth is a Swedish metal band that began in 1992. Their first full-length album came out in 1998. Their longevity is demonstrated by their musicianship; they're all really fucking good at playing their instruments. Vocalist Johan Hegg commands the crowd with gutteral vocal growls and screams, powering through material that has spanned the band's entire career. The band were currently stopping at the Warfield to support their newest release, Jomsviking, their first concept record as a band. Considering the theatricality of the band (such as performing with a stage prop shaped like a gigantic viking hat, it's interesting that it's taken this long for the band to bring a concept record into the mix. Regardless, it's brutal, it's relentless, and it's awesome to listen to and see performed live.

I can guarantee you that this band will be back, given how long these gentlemen have traversed the heavy metal landscape. And the next time they do come through your area, please note: Amon Amarth is a band that is not to be missed.