Versus the World

***Versus the World*** is the fourth full-length studio album by Swedish death metal band Amon Amarth, released on 18 November 2002 by Metal Blade Records. It was also released with a bonus disc featuring the *Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds* EP as well as their two demos; *Thor Arise*, *The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter* (the first being unreleased before) and a German version of "Victorious March" entitled "Siegreicher Marsch" which was on *Once Sent from the Golden Hall*. The song "Death in Fire" was made into a music video. *Versus the World* was the first Amon Amarth album to showcase a more midpaced and heavy sound, unlike their earlier faster works. A deluxe edition was released in 2009 that featured the album remastered by Jens Bogren, and a bonus cd of the original album played live in its entirety in Bochum, Germany.

When asked to comment on the album, vocalist Johan Hegg remarked:-

> This is the darkest, heaviest and most melancholic album we've ever done and the atmosphere can be felt through the whole album. I would say it's the most even album we've done so far and that the concept can be recognized in every song.
> —
>
>

## Reception

In 2005, *Versus the World* was ranked number 413 in *Rock Hard* magazine's book of *The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time*.

## Track Listing

### Normal Tracks

* Death in Fire
* For the Stabwounds in Our Backs
* Where Silent Gods Stand Guard
* Versus the World (song)
* Across the Rainbow Bridge
* Down the Slopes of Death
* Thousand Years of Oppression
* Bloodshed
* ...And Soon the World Will Cease to Be

### Limited Viking Edition Bonus CD

* Siegreicher Marsch (German version of "Victorious March"')
* Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds (taken from *Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds* EP)
* The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter (taken from *Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds* EP)
* Burning Creation (taken from *Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds* EP)
* The Mighty Doors of the Speargod's Hall (taken from *Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds* EP)
* Under the Grayclouded Winter Sky (taken from *Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds* EP)
* Burning Creation (taken from *The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter* demo)
* The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter (taken from *The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter* demo)
* Without Fear (taken from *The Arrival of the Fimbul Winter* demo)
* Risen from the Sea (taken from *Thor Arise* demo)
* Atrocious Humanity (taken from *Thor Arise* demo)
* Army of Darkness (taken from *Thor Arise* demo)
* Thor Arise (taken from *Thor Arise* demo)
* Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Black Sabbath cover; taken from *Thor Arise* demo)

### 2009 Remastered Edition Bonus CD

* Death in Fire (live in Bochum, Germany in 2008)
* For the Stabwounds in Our Backs (live in Bochum in 2008)
* Where Silent Gods Stand Guard (live in Bochum in 2008)
* Versus the World (song) (live in Bochum in 2008)
* Across the Rainbow Bridge (live in Bochum in 2008)
* Down the Slopes of Death (live in Bochum in 2008)
* Thousand Years of Oppression (live in Bochum in 2008)
* Bloodshed (live in Bochum in 2008)
* ...And Soon the World Will Cease to Be (live in Bochum in 2008)

## Personnel

### Band Members

* Johan Hegg – vocals
* Olavi Mikkonen – lead guitar
* Johan Söderberg – rhythm guitar
* Ted Lundström – bass
* Fredrik Andersson – drums

### Other

* Produced and engineered by Berno Paulsson.
* Mixed and mastered by Henrik Larsson in September 2002.
* Cover by Tom Thiel and Thomas Everhard