Fans from all over the country and abroad including Belgium and Germany were looking forward to the special 20th anniversary show, preceded by a meet and greet with drummer Fredrik Andersson and the rest of the band members. They were promised a show without any support act, but two full sets with songs spanning Amon Amarth's entire career.

In 1993 and 1994 Amon Amarth showed their skills with two demos, 'Thor Arise' and 'The Arrival Of The Fimbul Winter'. Their infectious brand of epic-sounding melodies and unadorned brutality caught the attention of metal heads all over the world in search of a new variety of extreme and by 1997 they were signed to Metal Blade Records, where they remain to this day.

Of course, frontman Johan Hegg's Thor-like growl and penchant for Viking-related lyrical themes have inevitably helped shape their sound. His imposing stature, congenial appearance and ways to win over the most reserved audience, along with the group's tireless commitment, did the rest. Nowadays Amon Amarth have grown out to be the epitome of epic, Viking-inspired death metal.

The first set started with an instrumental intro, seamlessly followed by War of the Gods from 'Surtur Rising', Amon Amarth's eighth studio album released in 2011. Recent songs like Destroyer of the Universe and For Victory or Death were interspersed with classics like Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds and Friends of the Suncross. The band ended the first set with Victorious March, only to announce a surprise: Dutch thrashers Legion of the Damned, featuring Erik Fleuren on drums, performed two songs as an unnannounced entr'acte. Both bands go way back as they toured together in the '90s.

Soon after Amon Amarth returned on stage for set two, kicking off with Twilight of the Thunder God. Again, a collection of earlier and more recent releases with tracks like The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter, The Last With Pagan Blood and Varyags of Miklagaard, The Hero, and Live for the Kill and a handfull of other songs.

Fredrik Andersson pulled off the obligatory blast beats in the band's more basic death metal apporach from the early days, although he changed his style over the years, nowadays incorporating more sextuplets and syncopation. Besides an occasional stick twirl, Fredrik doesn't show off with stick tricks. But make no mistake: he firmly leads the meter and rhythm in the band behind his Pearl kit with two kick drums and Meinl cymbals, and adds significantly to those great grooves that are perfect to bang your head on. Fredrik, who is also endorsed by Evans, Vic Firth and Cympad, co-writes and contributes to a lot of the band's material. And while guitarist Johan Söderberg played a few solo parts slightly out of tune, we did not detect any mistake in the drum department.

This concert featured no pyrotechnics, videos or any other fancy adornments except for a huge backdrop and some stage lights. And although Johan Hegg’s invitation to sing along with the chorus of fan favorite The Pursuit of Vikings ("It doesn't matter if you don't know the lyrics. Cause it's death metal and no one will know the difference") has been the same for years, no one cared because this evening was a trip back to the old school with a strict focus on the celebration of some good ol' loud, brutal and epic metal music.

To perform nearly two and a half hours in a smaller, more intimate setting rather than a huge arena-like space proved to be a great birthday gift to their fans. After the encore (Guardians of Asgaard) both the audience and the band, in particular vocalist Johan Hegg, were in no hurry to say goodbye to each other.

On a side note: credits to Tivoli, too bad this illustrious venue with great atmosphere will relocate to another building next year.