As MetalSucks pensman Sammy O’Hagar so eloquently stated in his review of Amon Amarth’s latest album Twilight of the Thunder God (which comes out tomorrow in the U.S.), the kings of Swedish viking death metal have always justified their outward ridiculousness by backing it up with skull-crushing, top-notch metal. And when it comes to making music videos things are no different; with their epic new video for the album’s title track — which has a full Viking battle reenactment and lots of synchronized head-banging, natch — Amon have created one of the most visually striking and cinematically beautiful videos released in ages, at least to these untrained eyes. Even if frontman Johan Hegg isn’t sporting his usual bare-chested metal chub this time around, at least he’s got his own band’s shirt on, the very definition of epic if you ask me. And oh yeah, did I mention Viking battles? Viking battles!

Speaking of Viking battles, time is running out (as in tomorrow is the deadline) for our Amon Amarth Viking Video Contest, co-sponsored by Metal Injection and Metal Blade. Create your own minute-long Viking reenacement, and a giant stash of Amon swag and booty could be yours. Enter and read the rules here.

Lastly, don’t miss the epicness when it rapes and pillages the shores of North America starting October 1st; catch the MetalSucks co-sponsored Amon Amarth tour with the unfuckwithable lineup of Ensiferum, Belphegor, and The Absence in tow. Dates after the jump. See you there, beer steins in hand. This might actually be the night where I finally where my viking helmet.

Amon Amarth with Ensiferum, Belphegor, The Absence:

Oct 1 2008 House Of Blues Anaheim, California
Oct 2 2008 The Avalon Los Angeles, California
Oct 3 2008 Slim’s San Francisco, California
Oct 4 2008 Hawthorne Theatre Portland, Oregon
Oct 5 2008 El Corazon Seattle, Washington
Oct 6 2008 Croatian Culture Centre Vancouver, British Columbia
Oct 8 2008 The Starlite Room Edmonton, Alberta
Oct 9 2008 The Warehouse Calgary, Alberta
Oct 10 2008 Ridell Centre Regina, Saskatchewan
Oct 11 2008 The Garrick Centre Winnipeg, Manitoba
Oct 12 2008 Station 4 St. Paul, Minnesota
Oct 13 2008 House Of Blues Chicago, Illinois
Oct 15 2008 Phoenix Concert Theatre Toronto, Ontario
Oct 16 2008 Le Medley Montreal, Quebec
Oct 17 2008 Theatre Imperial Quebec City, Quebec
Oct 18 2008 The Palladium Worcester, Massachusetts
Oct 19 2008 Trocadero Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Oct 20 2008 The Fillmore at Irving Plaza New York, New York
Oct 21 2008 Jaxx West Springfield, Virginia

[Listen to Amon Amarth on MySpace]