Amon Amarth Brought Horns, Thunder and Thrash Openers to Central New Jersey

Amon Amarth

Last night Starland Ballroom lived up to its all ages policy. That is young lads whose heads barely aligned with my hip bone (and I'm 5'2" so that's short) and older folks (some grey topped and others who listened to Black Sabbath when they were kids to piss off THEIR parents). Everyone, however, was there to headbang. Even the drunk girl with an Ed Hardy shirt, jean miniskirt and stiletto sandals (yeah, real classy) who heckled me for not acting like a drunk douchebag (aka her) until I told her to hold my camera bag to see how heavy it was.

Photos + recap after the jump

The night started with two thrash bands in a row. It makes perfect sense that Lazarus A.D. will join Testament and Exodus on their next tour. Even though everyone keeps saying they are the next big thing, you won't believe it until you see them on stage. And Skeletonwitch put the vive in revival. Lazarus got everyone excited. Skeletonwitch got them really moving. But, Goatwhore taught them something.

Goatwhore's Ben Falgoust, being a good frontman, understood that only 10% of his audience came from the Judas Priest era, so he offered a rocking out lesson of sorts. "You use this arm. When that one gets tired you use the other one. Then, when that one is tired, the other one is ready to go all over again." I really don't think anyone in the first three rows needed any tutorials, though. The girls wearing flip flops are another story.

I'm going to assume (being that this was my first AA show) that an Amon Amarth show is an Amon Amarth show and that is, in no way, a negative thing. My original plan to shoot the first three songs and head out to get food failed. It's been a while since I've tuned into any AA. So I forgot how catchy (as much as a death metal band from Sweden could be) their songs are.

Johan Heggs was awarded with cheers after exclaiming, "I say you are all vikings!" If there is anything I am not, it is a viking. My large curly hair is 180 degrees away from the standard length of viking locks. I drink like a snail. And the only tradition I hold true to is waking up everyday. See, not very viking-like. Even though Hegg said in a 2008 interview with Decibel that they "[are] not vikings," its really hard to believe so aurally (despite them being so damned polished). Outside of the venue there was no "Northern Star" in sight, but I think its because the Swedish gang scared all the stars away.

Lazarus A.D.

Skeletonwitch

Goatwhore

AMON A-FUCKING-MARTH

View all the pics here

-JV