Odin Rises Again. AMON AMARTH Announce New Album The Allfather Awakens
Swedish melodic death metal titans AMON AMARTH are returning with a brand-new studio album. Their thirteenth record, titled The Allfather Awakens, will be released on October 2, 2026 via Metal Blade Records. The album will feature ten tracks and will once again take listeners into a world of Norse mythology, battles, sacrifice and stories connected with Odin.
The Allfather Awakens will be the thirteenth studio album by AMON AMARTH since the release of their 1998 debut Once Sent from the Golden Hall. Although Odin, the "Allfather," plays a major role in both the lyrics and the overall visual concept of the new record, the band does not consider it a traditional concept album. Instead, the individual songs tell separate stories inspired by history and mythology, dealing with conflict, sacrifice and fighting for something greater than oneself.
This time, AMON AMARTH also changed the way they approached the songwriting process. Rather than waiting until the end of a touring cycle to begin writing new material, the band started working on the album while still on tour. The record itself was created during two separate recording sessions at producer Jacob Hansen's studio in Denmark. The first sessions took place in spring 2025, while the final work on the album was completed in March 2026.
The band approached the recording process one song at a time. Each track was fully completed – including drums, guitars and vocals – before work began on the next one. According to guitarist Olavi Mikkonen, this method allowed the musicians to give each song their full attention and bring it to its final form before moving on.
The album opens with Gjallarhorn, presenting AMON AMARTH in their familiar combination of heaviness and melody. Another strong reference to Norse mythology comes with Eight Legs of Thunder, inspired by Sleipnir, Odin's legendary eight-legged horse. A music video was also created for the track, unexpectedly combining Norse mythology with the atmosphere of a modern American western.
One of the biggest surprises on the record is Upphaf. It is the first fully acoustic song in the history of AMON AMARTH. The track is based on a translated passage from the Old Norse prophetic poem Völuspá and shows the band exploring a musical direction they have never previously attempted.
The album will also include the previously released track We Rule the Waves. In total, The Allfather Awakens will contain ten songs, while the album title is closely connected with the track The Allfather Awakes, which, according to available information, was the final song written for the record. The artwork for The Allfather Awakens was created by Tom Thiel, who has also designed several previous AMON AMARTH album covers.
With The Allfather Awakens, AMON AMARTH are adding another chapter to their more than three-decade-long history. The record remains firmly rooted in Norse mythology while also introducing elements the band has never explored before.
The Allfather Awakens will be released on October 2, 2026 via Metal Blade Records and will be available on CD, vinyl and digital formats, as well as in several special editions.