Amon Amarth's re-release of the 2001 album "The Crusher" is a gem for any fans of Sweden's foremost melodic death metal band. Featuring a cover of 'Eyes of Horror' by The Possessed, and a bonus live disc of "The Crusher" performed in full. This re-release is worth owning for all fans of Amon Amarth, or for any fans of melodic death metal in general.

Given the emergence of a mainstream following it's easy to see why Amon Amarth would be interested in re-releasing "The Crusher". "The Crusher" is considered by many fans to be Amon Amarth's finest and heaviest album. There's a feeling of less gate and production in the mix. This creates a natural flow to the tracks, like as if you were catching Amon Amarth at a rehearsal. It also exposes slight mistakes on the part the band but these only add to the closeness for the listener.

Could they have spent months in post production, slaving over every second of the recording? Sure but it wouldn't have carried the same honesty? Probably not. Instead we hear an incredible metal band doing what they do best whilst accepting any mistakes made during the process. From this angle, any mishap only accentuates how truly impressive Amon Amarth actually are.

In a genre that thrives on refining processes, and anal retentive producers, "The Crusher" stands as a very rare bird. A completely natural melodic death metal album from a very inspired metal group. May Odin bless their axes as they shred their way to Valhalla.