I've been listening to the
new Amon Amarth for the last two days, and it is good.
I'm not a huge Amon Amarth fan. I liked their first album (and Friends of the Suncross in particular — it has one of those legendary riffs), back in the aughts, then never really found their other albums, which were very similar (they're a Bolt Thrower, AC/DC, et al extreme consistency kind of band), all that compelling. I bet this one isn't all that different from the others either, but it happened to grab me.
It has a texture and feel that remind me of Karelian Isthmus/Tales from a Thousand Lakes-era Amorphis, though a bit less morose. And there are in fact a lot of catchy riffs, as they usually have.
It could also be that I did need inspiring jams when I heard it, as I have Problems Fatigue. The Great Heathen Army in fact does make you feel better about being a heathen that has to fight against problems!
Maybe all of the Amon Amarth albums are great? I definitely look forward to revisiting them now.