Alright so it’s time again for another mixed bag review and for this one, I thought I’d look at some more live albums. For this one, I thought I’d look at live albums from Swedish death metal bands. So here we go……
Arch Enemy: Tyrants of the Rising Sun Live In Japan- so as the name suggests, this was recorded during the Rise of the Tyrant era and it’s recorded in Japan. I remember hearing the song Taking Back My Soul on their MySpace before the rest of the album was released. Honestly, I much prefer their last live dvd called Live Apocalypse but sadly, there is not live cd to accompany that one. Now this is also the last official live dvd/album with singer Angela Gossow and if you were ever lucky enough to see her with Arch Enemy then you know that she had great energy. The set list on here is pretty good I just wish they would’ve played some of their older material. I give it 9/10
Standouts:
- Taking Back My Soul
- Ravenous
- Dead Bury Their Dead
- Nemesis
- Enemy Within
The Haunted: Live Rounds In Tokyo- this is a fairly older release and it’s during the Marco Aro era. It’s when they were touring behind the Made Me Do It album. I guess Japan is really into metal because a lot of bands record live albums there. On the Japanese edition, they include the song Blinded By Fear which I wish was on the U.S. release. The album itself is great and Marco does a great job singing both his songs and Peter Dolving’s songs. I do know that the deluxe versions of Made Me Do It include this but I remember buying this one at Warehouse Music in Simi Valley (god I miss that place). There is also a new song called Eclipse which is really good. Anyway, I give it 10/10
Standouts:
- Dark Intentions/Bury Your Dead
- Bullet Hole
- Undead
- Choke Hold
- Silencer
Amon Amarth: The Pursuit of Vikings Live at Summer Breeze: so I’ve always said that Amon Amarth are a better band live than on album. This album definitely captures that live energy and I’ve always wanted to go to a festival like Summer Breeze. It’s when they were supporting the album Jomsviking and the set of songs is a pretty good mix. If you have seen these guys live before, then this album will take you back to their shows. It’s a 10/10
Standouts:
- Deceiver of the Gods
- Twilight of the Thundergod
- With Oden on Our Side
- Live For the Kill
- First Kill
Soilwork: Live in the Heart of Helsinki- this album is their first live album and I must say that this one is a good one. In fact, while I’m working out, I’ll definitely throw this one on every now and again it’s that good. This was recorded during the Living Infinite album. Now I do wish that Ola Frenning and Peter Wichers were still in the band but their replacements do a fine job. The band is on point and Speed’s vocals are awesome. Definitely check this one out. I give it another 10/10
Standouts:
- Bastard Chain
- Nerve
- Overload
- The Chainheart Machine
- This Momentary Bliss
At the Gates: Purgatory Unleashed Live At Wacken- now I didn’t go to this particular show but I did go to the one they did out here in Pomona and this is an awesome live album and it was also one of the best shows I’ve been too. 2008 was definitely a great year for metal that’s for sure. I like that they played a good mix of everything from the first album all the way through Slaughter Of The Soul. The dvd that goes with this is awesome too and if you’re into live dvds then definitely check it out. I give this 10/10
Standouts:
- Raped By The Light of Christ
- The Swarm
- Suicide Nation
- Under A Serpent Sun
- All Life Ends
Arch Enemy: Burning Japan Live 1999- I swear this band and Japan. This album was actually really hard to find and I remember buying my copy on eBay years ago. Although now the songs can be heard on the deluxe versions on Stigmata and Burning Bridges but at the time I bought it that wasn’t the case. Anyway, this is the only live album without Angela or Alissa on vocals and the only one with original singer Johan Liiva. I personally really like this album because it’s something different so it gets 9.5/10
Standouts:
- The Immortal
- Diva Satanica
- Dead Inside
- Bass Intro/Tears of the Dead
- Pilgrim
The Haunted: Road Kill- so this is the first and only live album with Peter Dolving on vocals. It’s not a bad album but I much prefer Love Rounds in Tokyo. The set list on this is pretty good but if this had been recorded during rEVOLVEr, then I probably would’ve liked it just because of the YouTube videos I’ve seen of songs from that era live had so much more energy to them. This isn’t a bad album but it seems to lack a certain energy. I do,like the non love tracks on this one though. Overall, a pretty good album and I give it 8/10
Standouts:
- 99
- Hate Song
- Trespass
- Meat Wagon
- Trenches
Entombed: Monkey Puss Live in London-so this was recorded during the Gods of Grind ‘92 tour and during the Clandestine album cycle so it has that lineup on it. There is another live album called Unreal Estate but honestly this is the better of the two. That album is kind of weird and this album is definitely worth a listen. I give it 9/10
Standouts:
- Crawl
- Living Dead
- Sinners Bleed
- But Life Goes On
- Revel in Flesh
Meshuggah: Alive- this was recorded during the Obzen album cycle and I’ve never seen these guys live before but going by this album, I will definitely be getting tickets to their next show. The band itself is on point and vocalist Jens Kidman’ vocals are slowed down but they are still brutal and it actually sounds great. Overall, a great live album and I give it 9/10
Standouts:
- Combustion
- New Millennium Cyanide Christ
- Bleed
- Perpetual Black Second
- Rational Gaze
Dissection: Live in Stockholm 1994- this is a live album of songs off Somberlain and Storm Of The Light’s Bane. This is a great album to listen to especially if you are a fan of those albums. This is one of those where there isn’t too much crowd interaction and the band just powers through most of the songs. I give it 9/10
Standouts:
- At Fathomless Depths
- Frozen
- Unhallowed
- In the Cold Winds of Nowhere
- Where Dead Angels Lie
Arch Enemy: As The Stages Burn Live at Wacken 2016- so this one is the first live album with new singer Alissa White-Gluz and Jeff Loomis on guitar. Personally I much prefer Angela but Alissa does a decent job. To me their more recent live shows have become sort of gimmicky but the energy is there and the songs sound great. Overall, not as strong as their other live albums but still pretty good. I give it 7/10
Standouts:
- Yesterday Is Dead And Gone
- Nemesis
- War Eternal
- Under Black Flags We March
- As The Pages Burn
I’ve been very fortunate to have seen most of these bands live and they all put on great shows. Hopefully when this pandemic ends, I can do so again. If you have the chance to see these bands (except Dissection) then I’d definitely do so.
Sinister Reviews 