| Review scores | |
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| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
Fate of Norns is the fifth full-length studio album by the Swedish death metal band Amon Amarth. It was released on September 6, 2004 through Metal Blade Records. This album continued their slower, heavier sound which started on the previous album Versus the World. Before Fate of Norns was officially released by Metal Blade, promo copies were distributed with CD-ROM extras including pictures, biographies, sheets and logos. The album was released in conventional LP format as well as a limited digipak edition. The latter includes a live bonus DVD, Amon Amarth Live at Grand Rokk, which features live recordings and three-camera footage of a live performance in Reykjavík, Iceland on March 5, 2004. "The Pursuit of Vikings" was also made into a music video.
When asked to comment on the album, lead vocalist Johan Hegg, remarked:
The sound is more mature than on previous albums. I think the foundation for this sound started when we changed studios from Abyss to Berno when we got to working with Berno Paulsson. We improved the sound a lot for this album. We were able to make all the instruments work better together and still make them prominent one by one in the production as well. We were also able to keep the heaviness and brutality we need to be Amon Amarth.
— Johan Hegg
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Amon Amarth.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "An Ancient Sign of Coming Storm" | 4:39 |
| 2. | "Where Death Seems to Dwell" | 4:58 |
| 3. | "The Fate of Norns" | 5:58 |
| 4. | "The Pursuit of Vikings" | 4:30 |
| 5. | "Valkyries Ride" | 4:57 |
| 6. | "The Beheading of a King" | 3:24 |
| 7. | "Arson" | 6:45 |
| 8. | "Once Sealed in Blood" | 4:50 |
| Total length: | 40:00 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Death in Fire" | 4:58 |
| 2. | "For the Stabwounds in our Backs" | 4:58 |
| 3. | "The Last with Pagan Blood" | 5:39 |
| 4. | "Masters of War" | 4:30 |
| 5. | "The Sound of Eight Hooves" | 4:57 |
| 6. | "Bloodshed" | 5:24 |
| 7. | "Versus the World" | 5:24 |
| 8. | "Siegreicher Marsch" | 8:11 |
| Total length: | 44:00 | |
Personnel
Band members
- Johan Hegg – vocals
- Olavi Mikkonen – Lead Guitar
- Johan Söderberg – Rhythm guitar
- Ted Lundström – bass guitar
- Fredrik Andersson – drums
Other
- Mixed and mastered at Berno Studio by Berno Paulsson
- Horn on "Arson" by Udo Schlangschnabel