Metal Blade Records has issued the following update:

Swedish Viking Death Metal Kings AMON AMARTH receive worldwide acclaim by fans for their brand new album Surtur Rising!

Surtur Rising, the latest studio album from Swedish death metal tyrants, AMON AMARTH sold approximately 15,000 copies in the United States in its first week landing the band the #34 on the Billboard Top 200, #6 on the Billboard Top Independent Album, #1 on the Billboard Top Hard Music Albums and #10 on the Indy/Small Chain Core Store Chart.

In Germany, Surtur Rising sold over 14,000 units, entered the Top 100 Chart at #8 and is in the official Media Mark charts at #14 in its second week (# 8 in the first week).

In addition, Surtur Rising came in at #19 on Canada’s Top 200 Chart, #5 on the Independent Charts and #2 on Hard Charts. The record is #1 in Canada on iTunes’ Top Metal albums, and also charted on the following: #16 Top 200, #3 Top Rock and #1 Top Metal. In the U.S., the record ranked in at #2 on iTunes’ Rock Album chart and #20 in the Top 200 (overall album chart).

Here’s an overview about the top chart positions for Surtur Rising that have been revealed by now:

Germany: # 8
Sweden: # 8
Austria: # 12
Finland: # 16
Canada: # 19
Switzerland: # 20
USA: # 34
Czech Republic: # 35 (1st week); # 34 (2nd week)
Denmark: # 37
Norway: # 55
Benelux: 62
United Kingdom: # 75

AMON AMARTH comments the chart entries as follows: “We can’t thank our fans enough for showing their appreciation of our music and making this album our most successful release to date. We are looking forward to performing the songs from Surtur Rising live and delivering a powerful, crushing set! See you on tour, cheers!”

Released on March 25/28 via Metal Blade Records, Surtur Rising is AMON AMARTH’s eighth studio offering in a winding discography that’s helped shape the very face of epic, Viking-inspired death metal. Named in tribute to Surtur, leader of the fire giants of Muspelheim (“flame land”) and the oldest being in the nine worlds of Norse mythology, the record was recorded, mixed and mastered at Fascination Street Studios Örebro, Sweden with Jens Bogren and bears the striking cover art by Tom Thiel.

The mammoth long-player has been reaping incredible praise from critics nationwide. In a 9/10 review, Blabbermouth compared Surtur Rising to being, “bludgeoned by your favorite warhammer. Definitely a contender for this year’s best.” Fearnet called it a, “feast of world-destroying metal on par with the band’s career-defining 2008 release Twilight Of The Thunder God,” while Decibel Magazine commended the band noting, “it’s a pleasure to learn one of metal’s most consistent bands remains as indefatigable as ever.” Pop Matters called the record “another momentous album for AMON AMARTH, leaving no doubt that they are one of the best metal bands in the world!, and Live-Metal agreed: “one of the strongest, most massively heavy death metal bands around”

Make sure to surf over to the Surtur Rising landing page where you will find order options, videos and a stream of War Of The Gods – the opening track off Surtur Rising. Check it out at www.surturrising.com!

AMON AMARTH will embark on a European headlining tour in May with support coming from THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and EVOCATION.

AMON AMARTH
+ THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
+ Evocation
13/05/11 – NO – Oslo – Betong
14/05/11 – SE – Stockholm – Tyrol
15/05/11 – SE – Gothenburg – Trädgarn *
17/05/11 – DK – Copenhagen – Vega
18/05/11 – DE – Hamburg – Grosse Freiheit 36
19/05/11 – BE – Antwerp – Hof Ter Lo
20/05/11 – NL – Amsterdam – Melkweg
21/05/11 – DE – Köln – E-Werk
22/05/11 – FR – Paris – Elysee Montmartre
24/05/11 – DE – München – Tonhalle
25/05/11 – IT – Milan – Limelight
27/05/11 – DE – Dessau – Metalfest Germany
28/05/11 – AT – Mining – Metalfest Austria
29/05/11 – CH – Pratteln – Metalfest Switzerland
*without Black Dahlia Murder