Amon Amarth sail into Manchester with a longship’s worth of Viking spectacle, as Soilwork and Orbit Culture complete a proper Swedish invasion…

Words & photos by Sabrina Ramdoyal (sabrinaramdoyal)| Oct 25, 2026

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Imagine the almost cinematic acoustics bouncing off a group’s impressive themes. Now, visualise three outstanding metal bands, an adoring audience, and an aether that strengthened throughout the evening. Manchester’s O2 Apollo was a fine choice, delivering the idyllic location for Amon Amarth, with Soilwork and Orbit Culture joining the waves. Would one call this a Swedish invasion? It has indeed been a while.

Legendary melodic death metal experts Soilwork had the task of opening the night, wasting little time getting the proceedings moving. Their set was relatively short, but they brought plenty of understanding to the stage. Björn “Speed” Strid was a standout presence. The ability to switch between aggressive growls and soaring clean vocals is still one of Soilwork’s greatest strengths, while the musicianship behind him demonstrated just how tight the ensemble was. Tracks such as ‘Distortion Sleep’ and ‘Stålfågel’ hosted the band’s unforgettable melodies. The sound took a little bit of time to settle in, which meant the opening moments weren’t as powerful as they could have been. However, it did not take long as the set progressed, and Soilwork left the stage producing an impressive opening display. The quintet gave Manchester a reminder that, despite being first on the bill, they have established their huge catalogue and a distinctive sound that still has an influence on the scene.

“It feels so good to be back in Manchester,” beamed frontman Niklas Karlsson as a massive ovation shattered the O2 Apollo walls. On the road to becoming a household name in the Swedish metal calibre, Orbit Culture brought intimidation, placing their feet firmly on home and commanding their natural habitat. ‘Redfog’ was the perfect dish served to kick the night off immediately, setting the tone further with the vicious ‘Alienated’ and the killer anthem ‘Strangler’ creating what can be described as a battlefield. Hitting brutally with ‘The Tales of War’, the set reached another height as ‘While We Serve’ facilitated full-on mosh-pit danger. Impeccably ending their presence with stomping ‘Hydra’ and ‘Vultures of North’ brought the spectacle to a fitting conclusion. The rising Swedes elevated the bar once again in Manchester, with concert-goers expressing that “the rest of the UK needs to be ready”. It was an atmosphere incredibly superior for a 13-year-old troupe that matches production values one would expect from a band of 20+ years. It’s now a matter of when, not if, Orbit Culture return as headliners on even bigger stages on the English shores.

The arrival of Swedish veterans Amon Amarth on stage at the Manchester Apollo was a visual triumph when frontman Johan Hegg’s boomed, “Good evening, Manchester, and welcome to Valhalla!” The titans of melodic death metal made it clear the night would be an immersive Viking-metal spectacle. With their thirteenth album “The Allfather Awakens” freshly released, Amon Amarth proved why they remain as one of metal’s most celebrated live acts.

From the opening notes of ‘Gjallarhorn’, the Manchester O2 Apollo stepped into the past, with the production arousing the mythic energy of a Norse frontline. The band wasted no time plunging into a relentless opening run: ‘War of the Gods’ and ‘Death in Fire’ roared through the venue. Newer material stood shoulder to shoulder with their classics, like ‘The Allfather Awakes’ and ‘We Rule the Waves’ slotted seamlessly into the set as interaction reached a peak with ‘Put Your Back Into the Oar’, as hundreds in the pit mimed rowing motions in unison, transforming the floor into a Viking longship without instruction—one of those rare live moments that felt not only spontaneous, but unforgettable. The quintet settled into a rather unusual with ‘Upphaf’, an acoustic performance that provided a much-needed breather, but without sacrificing any of the night’s atmosphere over a campfire. Instrumentally, the band was on point. The twin-guitar melodies soared above the cinematic grandeur; the rhythm section anchored the set with power, and throughout, Johan Hegg’s showmanship not once faltered, keeping Manchester riveted on the ride.

As the finale approached, staples like ‘Guardians of Asgaard’, ‘Shield Wall’, and ‘Raise Your Horns’ turned the O2 Apollo into a raucous party. Fists were pumping, bodies were slamming, and voices united in perfect harmony. The closing torrent of ‘The Way of Vikings’ prepped all for one last battle, ‘Saxons And Vikings’, with Biff Byford of Saxon making a video appearance and the Viking war cry ‘Twilight of the Thunder God’ delivered the larger-than-life ending for which Amon Amarth are renowned for. This was an epic saga blending mythic storytelling, musical prowess, and audience immersion. Few bands can command a stage and a crowd so completely. It was clear that the Swedish invasion delivered an remarkable evening, leaving Manchester with the first drop of what’s to be expected on their remaining dates of their current tour run.

Tack så mycket (thank you so much in Swedish)!