Amon Amarth

Original co-billed headliners Decapitated won't be at Station 4 on Sunday, thanks to a tragic October 29 collision in Belarus that totaled the band's tour bus and claimed the life of drummer Witold "Vitek" Kieltyka four days later. (Singer Adrian "Covan" Kowanek remains hospitalized.) But even minus Polish technical death-metal prodigies, the lineup is rife with dicey enchantments. Amon Amarth walk an unusual path for Scandinavians in metal. Like dozens of other bands from Bergen to the Faeroes, the sole remaining headliners identify as Viking. But, rather than skewing black and/or folkish like most of their co-religionist colleagues, the Swedish quintet wrap lyrics informed by the Norse belief system around robust, melodic death metal. (They also bang their heads in unison live!) Seattle-based Himsa are quickly becoming one of America's most formidable thrash bands. While not yet exactly themselves, melodic death-metal openers Sonic Syndicate show considerable promise. All ages.
Sun., Dec. 9, 5 p.m., 2007