Formed in 1992 in Tumba, Stockholm County, Sweden, Amon Amarth emerged from the
former folk‑grindcore outfit Scum, with founding members Johan Hegg on vocals,
Olavi Mikkonen on guitar, Ted Lundström on bass, and Nico Kaukinen on drums. The
band’s early efforts included the 1993 demo Thor Arise and the 1996 mini‑album
Sorrow Throughout the Nine Worlds, which attracted Metal Blade’s attention.
Under that label, they released Once Sent from the Golden Hall (1998), The
Avenger (1999), and the aggressive The Crusher (2001). A steady stream of
releases followed: Versus the World (2002)...