Amon Amarth – Olavi Mikkonen

After the success of their first Australian tour back in early 2008, Amon Amarth are about to return to our shores for another onslaught of traditional viking and folk metal. Metal Obsession recently had the chance to speak with Amon Amarth guitarist Olavi Mikkonen about the band’s upcoming Australian tour starting next week, and of course Johan’s mighty beard.

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Metal Obsession: November will see Amon Amarth return to Australia for their second headlining tour. Both Arch Enemy and Opeth will also be touring down under at this time, what is it that the Swedes love so much about Australia?

Olavi Mikkonen: I guess it’s more or less a coinicidence that these 3 bands tour Australia at the same time. Just recently we played in Glasgow with Entombed, a few blocks down the road Paradise Lost, Katatonia and Engel played same night. Lots of bands are touring these days and I guess that’s just the way it is. Besides, it’s not so hard to understand why we love to come to Australia, when it’s dark and cold up north it’s sunny down under!

MO: The last Amon Amarth tour in 2008 was promoting the then latest release and career defining album “With Oden on our Side”, since then you released your seventh studio album “Twilight of the Thunder God”, what kind of a set list can fans expect at these upcoming shows?

OM: This is the Twilight world tour so of course we will play a lot of new songs, then we will try to get a balanced mix of older material. We’ll try to play other songs than we did last time.

MO: Various minor theatrics have been utilised at Amon Amarth shows such as the drinking horns, wristbands etc do you find this helps you in a way to get into character in order to give a more liberated and better live performance or is not something you really think about?

OM: Perhaps it helps, I never thought about it. We lost our horns at Chile customs earlier this year so after that we sort of dropped the horn thing. It’s always been a hassle to get into different countries with the horns.

MO: Obviously being a band that originated from Sweden it’s not hard to see where the Viking Age and Norse Mythology influences have come from, but was this something you were particularly interested in growing up?

OM: As far as I know Johan has always been into this. My interest started when Johan wrote lyrics about it.

MO: Over the years the music of Amon Amarth has progressed and developed but maintained the same basic foundations, I read that the band didn’t want to upset the fans by changing too much. Would you ever consider any side projects in order to explore different genres/styles etc?

OM: Well, I don’t know if we didn’t want to change because we didn’t want to upset our fans. I would rather put it that we don’t want to change too much because we like it as it is. We found our style long ago and now we just want to keep within it’s frames. I have tons of ideas I would like to try out that might not be considered Amon Amarth, but as of right now there is simply no time at all. I guess we will keep ourselves busy when Amon Amarth is all over.

MO: 2008’s Australian tour saw Amon Amarth participate in a BBQ meet and greet with Melbourne fans, Just Say Rock are selling tickets for an after party at the Melbourne show this November, will you guys be hanging around to sink a few brews with fans again?

OM: I guess some of us will hang out for a short while, but we do have a show in Sydney the next day and most likely with a early flight as well.

MO: Has this become a priority for Amon Amarth to be as accessible to their fans as possible?

OM: Well, we try our best to be accessible. We always tried to arrange signings and that kind of stuff.

MO: When browsing on the net I found an interesting statement which read “Hegg is notable for his beard and the leather bracers he wears on stage”, so if not for anything else at least Johan can be known for his mighty beard growing skills. Johan, how much would someone have to pay you to shave off your beard?

OM: He said: “How the hell am I suppose to know that?” [laughs]

MO: It is often a misconception that once a band has a few successful albums under their belt they have made the big time and are set for life, I read somewhere that as well as being a member for Amon Amarth Johan is also a professional truck driver? What other activities do you pursue when not writing and performing in Amon Amarth?

OM: Well, as far as I know he drove some truck for a month or so, but that was a few years back. At least for the rest of us (also including Johan) there is no time for other work than the band and we make a living out of it.

This type of music isn’t anything you get rich at, it’s all right and we are grateful that we reached this point. When I’m at home I do what other normal people do, gardening, repairing the house and trying to be there for my girlfriend as much as possible.

MO: I also read that before becoming a musician Johan used to sell cheese?

OM: Yes, that’s correct.  He was a salesman.

MO: With “Versus the World” released in 2002, “Fate of Norns” in 2004, “With Oden on Our Side” 2006 and “Twilight of the Thunder God” in 2008 can we expect a new release in 2010?

OM: Not 2010, we are aiming for a 2011 release if we have enough killer material.

MO: Have you got any initial ideas for the next album? I know you had a few ideas for a somewhat conceptual album with an underlying theme etc.

OM: I think we have been talking about a concept album for many years now and somehow I doubt it will happen. We have not started to work with anything yet. We are going to finish the Twilight tour first and then start thinking of a new album.

MO: You were touring relentlessly from June till late August this year and you had about a month off before getting back into rehearsals and on the road again, did you get up to much over the break?

OM: June-August was just the European festivals. We been touring since October 2009 with one month off this September. I actually got pretty much done at home during the break.

MO: You were playing some massive festivals like Roskilde in Denmark for the first time; did it feel kind of surreal to be on the bill with acts such as Coldplay and Kanye West who are literally household names?

OM: I can’t say I got impressed by that line up, opening for Slayer meant much more to me though. Of course playing Roskilde as a festival has always been a dream for us since the early 90’s when we were there as visitors.

MO: The band itself has been around now since the early 90’s so are there any specific things the band still wishes to achieve? Or do you just hope to keep producing quality music that you can perform to the world until they don’t want to hear it anymore?

OM: You totally nailed it there. We want to continue producing quality music and tour world-wide until no one wants to hear us anymore.

MO: Any last words for your Australian fans before you reach our shores?

OM: Be ready!

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Amon Amarth – Australian Tour 2009
Tue 24th Nov – Capitol, Perth w/ Eye of the Enemy (tbc), Mhorgl
Thur 26th Nov – Hi-Fi, Brisbane w/ Eye of the Enemy, Phlanx
Fri 27th Nov – Billboard, Melbourne w/ Eye of the Enemy, Orpheus
Sat 28th Nov – Metro, Sydney w/ Eye of the Enemy, Bane of Isildur

In addition to the show, Just Say Rock are pleased to announce that an after party will be held in Melbourne at Billboard The Venue. If you’re not quite ready to head home, for an extra $10 you can stay behind at the bar, meet with fellow fans and keep on rocking!

Tickets are available from the Just Say Rock website.