Band: Amon Amarth
Title: The Crusher
Label: Metal Blade Records
Distribution: Rough Trade Benelux
Release date: 28/08/2009
Review: CD (re-issue + bonus-CD)

This is an interesting re-release for every Amon Amarth-fan. All right, most of us do have the original edition of 2001’s The Crusher, which was recorded at the well-known Abyss Studio with Lars Szöke and Peter Tägtgren, and released through Metal Blade. Duration: fifty minutes.
The bonus-CD (forty six minutes) is a live-recording, yet an unusual one. It features the integrally played original album, yet without the studio album’s bonus track, the Possessed-cover The Eyes Of Horror, recorded at the end of December 2008 during a concert series as a part of Bloodshed Over Bochum. The sound is more than acceptable, ‘full’ and powerfully overwhelming, and the performance is just superb. The experienced members are very skilled, not only in the studio, yet also live, and that shows. These guys know how to handle their instruments and besides, the interaction between them is extremely professional.
The digi-pack comes with a nice 16-page booklet with interesting liner notes, so if you like this Swedish formation’s excellent Epic Death Metal, this re-issue is an absolute must!

--/100

Ivan Tibos.