The Crusher (Reissue)

VINYL FORMAT. Plastic Head Music USA presents the latest from its distributed label Vinyl Collector Series. Each title is manufactured on heavyweight, 180 gram vinyl for optimum sound quality. The titles are hand-selected representing the best of the respective artist or genre. Strictly controlled, these titles will quickly sell out so stock up now before they are gone!

On red vinyl! 'After nearly a decade of recording and a few lineup overhauls, each contributor to Amon Amarth's previous effort, The Avenger, stuck around for The Crusher. Original members Johan Hegg (vocals) and Olavi Mikkonen (guitars) are again joined by Fredrik Andersson on drums, Johan Söderberg on guitar, and bassist Ted Lundström. There is nothing new on this outing to surprise fans of this band's familiar Scandinavian death metal. The riffing from guitar and drums is workmanlike, and Hegg's vocal rants carry all the requisite ferocity. During slower, more musically focused numbers like "As Long as the Raven Flies" and the opener, "Bastards of a Lying Breed," certain attributes of '80s thrash and song-driven metal create spaces that enhance the rest of this album's dense material. The Crusher blends seamlessly with the rest of Amon Amarth's Metal Blade catalog. There isn't a standout among these recordings, as their textural differences are negligible. Listeners who enjoy this kind of metal should certainly check out Amon Amarth, and The Crusher would be a good place to start.' - All Music Guide