Next up is Arch Enemy. Did you know that there was at one point a guy singing? I’ll bet you didn’t. Arch Enemy is an interesting one because they are one of the few bands from Sweden to go from a male singer to different female singers. Here we go:
Black Earth- the first album was written mostly by Michael Amott after he left Carcass. He did bring in his brother Christopher to do additional guitar work and drummer Daniel Erlandsson. But oddly enough, singer Johan Liiva is credited for bass. This is the album that should’ve come after Carcass’s Heartwork. Overall not bad for a first album. I give this one a 7.5/10
Standouts: Bury Me An Angel, Fields of Desolation, Idolatress
Stigmata- the second album by Arch Enemy has about the same production as the previous. The songs are structured about the same and honestly, it’s a great album to listen to right after Black Earth. This time, Sharlee D’Angelo (Witchery, Dismember) joined the band. This album got a world wide distribution. Overall a great second album. I give it a very solid 7.5/10
Standouts: Diva Satanica, Beast of Man, Black Earth
Burning Bridges: the final album with original singer Johan Liiva. This ones my favorite because the songs are a little heavier and it has one of my favorite Arch Enemy songs The Immortal. Coupled with the fact that they also released a live album called Burning Japan Live 1999. My overall complaint would be that the solos seem to drag on a little too long. Overall a fantastic record. I give it 8/10
Standouts: The Immortal, Demonic Science, Angelclaw
Wages of Sin- wow what an album!! Not only do we get a new singer in the form of Angela Gossow but she is amazing. In fact she can growl better than a lot of male death metal singers. So many good songs on this album and the Amott brothers are amazing as well on this record. Some of their best riffs are on this album. A very solid 10/10
Standouts: Enemy Within, The First Deadly Sin, Dead Bury Their Dead
Anthems of Rebellion- the second album with Angela came out around the time where a lot of Swedish metal bands were releasing their albums. You have albums from The Haunted, Soilwork, In Flames, and The Crown. However compared to the last one, this album is darker and more structured but there’s something lacking. The songs are great though just something missing. Anyway I give this a 9/10
Standouts: Silent Wars, Leader of the Rats, Despicable Heroes
Doomsday Machine- this is the album that got me into this band and it’s still my favorite. I heard songs off this one from FUSE covering Ozzfest 2005 and was instantly hooked. The songs are some of their best and the riffs are incredible. Gus G. even has a guest solo on the second track on this record and it kicks ass. Guitarist Christopher Amott left the band to go back to school so they got Gus G to replace him for their Ozzfest dates. After Ozzfest, they recruited a guy named Fredrik Akesson (who would later join Opeth) to play the remainder of the album touring cycle as well as a spot on Gigantour 2006. A lot of cool history during this record with the different guitarists and a perfect 10/10
Standouts: Taking Back My Soul, Skeleton Dance, Nemesis
Rise of the Tyrant- talk about an amazing follow up to one of their best. This album is a monster of an album. I feel like with they got bigger after the last album and this record definitely helped. The songs are aggressive and fast, Angela’s vocals are just as brutal and Christopher Amott is back on guitar. I will say that as amazing as this record is, it is not better than the previous one. I give this a very solid 9/10
Root of All Evil- sometimes bands will go back and re record their previous songs and this is one of those albums. The band went and re recorded 12 songs from their first 3 albums. I gotta say that seeing them play these old songs live on the dvd, I was excited about the idea of hearing Angela sing the older material. When it finally was released, I popped it in the CD player and the songs are great but the album seems a little over produced. Great song choices but the production is meh. I give this a 7/10
Standouts: The Immortal, Bury Me An Angel, Demonic Science
Khaos Legions- the next album sadly would be Angela’s last album with the band. It’s not bad the songs start off great but what I’m not a big fan of is songs that start off fast and brutal then slow down for long periods of time and that happens a lot on this record. This would also be the second time Christopher Amott would leave the band and be replaced with Nick Cordle from the band Arsis. I’m not saying that Nick is a bad choice it just seems a little random. Could be because I’m not a fan of Arsis but he does a fine job. Overall this is not a bad album it’s just not as good as previous albums. I give it a 6/10
Standouts: Yesterday is Dead and Gone, Under Black Flags We March, Bloodstained Cross
Shortly after this album touring cycle, Angela left the band and she was replaced by Alissa White-Gluz from the band The Agonist. This new lineup wrote:
War Eternal- so we now have the second major lineup change since Wages of Sin. This is a good album from a band with a new singer. Alissa does a fine job on vocals. I was apprehensive because Angela was such a great vocalist but I wasn’t let down. This is also the first record with new guitarist Nick Cordle and he also does a fine job replacing Christopher Amott but during the 2014 tour in San Francisco, he left during the bands set with only a few songs left. According to Michael Amott, he “had a flight to catch.” Christopher Amott temporarily rejoined to finish the tour and was officially replaced by Jeff Loomis from Nevermore which is a great choice. I give this album a 7/10
Standouts: War Eternal, Never Forgive Never Forget, As the Pages Burn
Will To Power- so we have the most recent Arch Enemy release and honestly it’s an album you can listen to right after the last one. The songs however aren’t as strong on this one but they are good regardless. There is a good amount of filler and if they would shorten the songs and speed them up then they’d be so much better. I give this a 6.5/10
Standouts: The World is Yours, The Race, Murder Scene
Overall, this band has had a lot of major lineup changes but at the end of the day, it’s Michael Amott’s band and he clearly knows how to write great riffs and songs. As I said before especially with their more recent songs, if they would shorten and speed them up they’d be that much better. I will say that I’ve seen them both with Angela and Alissa and Angela was the better front woman. She just could get the crowd going and I feel with Alissa, her stage presence with her outfits seems kind of gimmicky. However, both are great in their own way.
Final Grade: A
Album Rankings for Arch Enemy:
1. Doomsday Machine
2. Wages of Sin
3. Anthems of a Rebellion
4. Burning Bridges
5. Rise of the Tyrant
6. Black Earth
7. Khaos Legions
8. Stigmata
9. Root of All Evil
10. War Eternal
11. The World is Yours
Sinister Reviews 