Turning toward more somber views of mythical warfare, this time Amon Amarth's never-fail blend of New Wave of British Heavy Metal bombast and death metal aggression wrestles with the darkness of defeat. "Valhall Awaits Me" and "Runes to My Memory" invoke their proud fallen brothers while galloping directly into combat. Powerful Norse tales of clashing swords are set to equally brutal guitar riffs and double-pedal drum blasts as heavy as Thor's mighty hammer, while epic closer "Predictions of Warfare" feels almost cinematic in its scope.