Amon Amarth + Orbit Culture + Soilwork @ Eventim Apollo, London 10th October 2026
Tonight we are to be treated to a feast of melodic death metal, with three Swedish bands from that genre playing. Some may consider ‘melodic death metal’ to be a contradiction in terms, but I can assure you that it really is a thing, as tonight’s bands will indisputably prove.
Soilwork
First into the breach are Soilwork, who are a six-piece from Helsingborg. Tonight’s setlist is notable for the inclusion of the title track from the album Figure Number Five, which is played live tonight for the first time since 2013.
Soilwork haven’t released an album since 2022, doubtless due in part to the tragic passing of guitarist David Andersson that same year. They are currently working on a new album. In the meantime, the most recent track played tonight is the single Spirit Of No Return, which came out in 2024.
Hopefully, when the new record is released, they will grace the UK with a headlining tour. Meanwhile, it’s great to see them on the road.
Orbit Culture
Next up are Orbit Culture, who are a four-piece from Eksjö. My immediate reaction is to note that they have a very impressive stage set for a support band. Luckily, their music lives up to it! There is some very atmospheric stage lighting too, which enhances the whole thing. Bassist Fredrik Lennartsson has a five-string instrument, which emphasises how serious he is about his art.
Vocalist Niklas Karlsson calls for a circle pit during Alienated. A small one erupts in the middle of the room, but it’s not overly impressive. Niklas has other means by which to get his kicks, however, such as having a moment on lead guitar during The Storm.
Before The Tales Of War, Niklas tells us that he wants us to jump. Not from the front row of the balcony, I’m not. However, downstairs is a mass of jumping people. The song has a long, cool instrumental intro, followed by an ace guitar solo from Richard Hansson, and then some cracking dual lead guitar from Richard and Niklas.
Strangler rolls along like a demonic rollercoaster. There are three vocal mics onstage, and as Niklas moves around, he uses all three of them. He asks for a bigger circle pit and his wish is granted. One of the participants is running around with an inflatable hammer. Who said metalheads don’t have a sense of humour?
The question is asked: are we ready to go apeshit? Well, seemingly so! The circle pit is certainly going around much faster. Hydra has a slight feel of Led Zeppelin’s Kashmir, and the guitarists let loose with some more dual lead.
Orbit Culture have been nothing if not impressive. Indeed, both opening bands have served up excellent hors d’oeuvres to whet our appetites for Amon Amarth.
Amon Amarth
Amon Amarth are a five-piece from Tumba. Tonight’s show has been a veritable magical mystery tour of Sweden! I’m sure that our collective geography skills have been much enhanced as a result of attending this gig!
The stage is concealed behind a curtain, and the band have some very portentous walk-on music. Vocalist Johan Hegg looks like a Viking and must be at least as old as me, which potentially makes him very old indeed! He has an impressively deep baritone. Although his voice is treated with effects, they don’t conceal how good a singer he is.
An Amon Amarth show is not just a gig. There is theatre and pyrotechnics. There are lots and lots of pyrotechnics. One could accuse the band of being pyromaniacs, but they all look bigger than me, so I’m not going to do that.
The first element of theatre appears during War Of The Gods (the gods seem quite violent types, incidentally), when a bloke walks on who appears to be dressed as Old Father Time. It turns out that he’s actually Odin.
The animated backdrop is stunning, as is the pyro, the heat from which I can feel up in the balcony. I look around for my nearest fire exit, just in case. There’s also heat from guitarists Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Söderberg, who both play lead during this song. Johan mostly plays rhythm.
Vocalist Johan Hegg looks old and wise, and probably is. He welcomes us to Valhalla. I’ve never heard Hammersmith called that before. I hope that Johan isn’t lost.
Death In Fire features more pyro. Why wouldn’t it? It also features some tapping from Olavi Mikkonen. It’s nearly fifty years since Eddie Van Halen first introduced rock audiences to tapping, and we’re still not bored with it.
During Free Will Sacrifice, all of the band members are spotlit. This is an indicator that there don’t seem to be any overriding egos in this band.
For Deceiver Of The Gods, a guy walks on wearing a horned helmet and carrying a spear. He is apparently called Loke. Johan Hegg is clearly not afraid of anything because he quickly sends him on his way.
The song closes with some dual lead guitar, which the audience sing along with. This, my friends, is where the melodic part of death metal comes in.
The Allfather Awakes, from the new album The Allfather Awakens, features a dramatic spoken-word intro from Johan. This is essentially prog death metal!
There’s room for old favourites too, such as Put Your Back Into The Oar, which leads to most of the people downstairs sitting on the floor and pretending to row! This provides a great visual definition of suspension of disbelief! Someone’s keeping time for the people rowing using an inflatable sword!
Any metal band worth their salt has an acoustic section in their show, and Amon Amarth are no different. There’s a campfire lit at the front of the stage, but I don’t think the band are going to be toasting marshmallows somehow. They settle down around the fire with acoustic instruments, whilst drummer Jocke Wallgren has tom-toms. They play a particularly gentle version of Upphaf.
Biff Byford appears onscreen behind the band to provide co-lead vocals on Saxons And Vikings. Guess which one he is? Prior to this, we have had various people dressed as medieval soldiers onstage.
There are times when I’m concerned that the spectacle will overshadow the music. Thankfully, that doesn’t happen, but it’s a close-run thing.
This is certainly the most spectacular show that I’ve seen at Hammersmith, particularly in terms of theatre and pyro. However, the music has more than stood up to the challenge from the spectacle. Also, the music has been very definitely melodic, as promised.
I don’t believe that anybody will walk away from this show tonight without feeling that they’ve been massively entertained.
Words: Mark Kelly Photos: Robert Sutton
More Amon Amarth on Punkinfocus: Amon Amarth unleash The Allfather Awakens ahead of UK tour (October 2026) · Amon Amarth unleash Eight Legs Of Thunder video and UK tour dates (August 2026) · Amon Amarth Announce The Allfather Awakens and UK Tour (July 2026)
