Amon Amarth- Versus the World (Metal Blade) www.metalblade.com

Grunting Swedish death metal with a penchant for Manowar-styled battle themes and virtuoso musicianship. As befitting for a bunch of Vikings, the songs sound both heroic and homicidal, and for once in a band of this genre, you can actually hear the drums, which bash away like tribal war hammers, beefing up the sound considerably. There's a break in "Where Silent Gods Stand Guard" that sounds just like "Just What I Needed" by the Cars, but don't tell Amon Amarth, they'd probably be pissed. Otherwise, if you dig manly sounds of Scandinavian broadsword metal, than this one will most surely stiffen your loincloth. I might even take it on my next pillaging spree. But "Versus the World"? My educated guess is, the world wins. It's a close call, though.