The number one anticipated album of the year has arrived with new blood and in your face brutality. Swedish Melodic Death Metal Pioneers and Masters, Arch Enemy, are about to release their tenth studio-album titled, War Eternal. The album set for release June 9th in Europe and June 10th in the US, we are taken on a monstrous journey of all things Melodeath, from blast beats, raging vocals, heavy bass, and up your arse guitar abuse that sends quivers and terror down ones spine. A major event that occured, this is the first album without signature lead growler, Angela Gossow, who is now the band’s manager and was replaced by Alissa White-Gluz, who was the lead for Canadian Extreme Metal Band, The Agonist. This will also be the first album with new guitarist, Nick Cordle, who replaced longtime guitarist Christopher Amott in 2012.
A first for the Legendary band, we are greeted by an instrumental prelude, titled, Tempore Nihil Sanat. A quick one minute of creepy and eerie atmospheres and choirs immediately takes us into the explosive first metal track of the album, Never Forgive, Never Forget. Alissa’s vocals, Michael Amott’s heavy riffs and Daniel Erlandsson’s incredible blast beats, blast a hole through the roof. All their inputs dominate throughout the track and the feature of a killer shredding solo is nothing out of the ordinary for Arch Enemy. War Eternal, the title track, was the first single to be released a while back. Another ground breaking anthem for the band, Alissa’s vocals are prevalent and pelt out a powerful force only she can master. The heavy riffs present themself, and the melodic aspect of the track soars above and beyond with phenomenal determination. This is the battle cry for the band, this is their new anthem. Minutes later a kickass solo presents itself and the notch is turned on full speed with a finale that finishes just about anyone off. Let’s catch our breaths here, a rarity for me, I needed to take a minute break, such intensity. Prepare yourself for the following track, the second single to be released, As The Pages Burn. One of the most intense and fastest tracks in the album, grab that Metal Demon by it’s balls, turn those speakers to the max and let loose your inner Demons. Speaking of Demons, Alissa’s vocals take on a more gutteral tone, and I always feel like punching a wall and growling along with her when she mentions my favorite lyrics, “Rip apart the world, word by word, Inch by inch, Sever your timeline, silence your conscience!” What a menacing track. Wow. You Will Know My Name, was the third single to be released. After reading some of the comments left on their video, I was surprised to see a handful of people did not like the track. It’s not an insanely intense track, but I would find an album to be quite cliche and not diverse and talented enough, had they not thrown in a track like that in this masterpiece. Melodically strong and Eargasmic instrumentally, and vocally remains grim, the darker ambience administers heavy gloom.
[tube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InRMwptcgAo[/tube]
Halfway through the album, an interlude arrives, titled, Graveyard Of Dreams. The guitars and harmonization certainly bring that title to manifestation, mentally. Stolen Life takes me back to older Arch Enemy. A bit of Black Metal, and intriguing tones made this track one of my favorites of the album. On And On, stays on the band’s melodic side once again, and quite interestingly, some Power Metal, sneaks it’s way into the track. No, it’s not a negative at all, this only adds to the astounding talent and conglomerance the band has instrumentally. A hard and heavy breakdown followed by some shredding proceeds intuitively. A bit of change of pace, the next track, Avalanche, was more on the groove side. Lots of room to headbang, more deep gutterals, and hints of light Symphonies backed this track. The last two tracks do a sweeping job of finishing off the album. Down To Nothing, remaines allegiant to the Swedish Death Metal scene of course. I did not think it was possible for the vocals to sound even more Demonical, but Alissa pulls it off, all around a fast track indeed featuring note bends, galloping, and breakdowns. The perfect atmosphere to end the album, and with the title aptly so, Not Long For This World, encompasses beautiful guitar melodies which perfectly execute a tone that feels like the end of the world is at hand. A slower and steady progresssion takes us through to the end, a few heartbeats and a slow fade out altogether completes War Eternal.
[tube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y-J7sBT_no[/tube]
By the end of the album, I had many thoughts running through my mind. From heavy sentiment to content, just a blend of all around feelings. There’s a reason Arch Enemy strongly stands as one of my all-time favorite bands. There have been points through my life I’ve contemplated inking their logo on myself, they are just that dam good. Though it did take me a short while to get used to the new vocals, being a long-time fan and all, this album already has a spot in my top 5 albums of the year. If you crave power, speed, melody and more importantly, diversity, this album will take you there. I am almost positive the band will hit North American Shores next year, seeing as they are on a heavy touring regimen in Europe and the UK throughout the end of the year, though it is rumored they may do a US tour this Fall. A new era has begun in the world of Arch Enemy, time and time again they continue to prove why there are one of the dire forces to be reckoned with. I can see them unquestionably being inducted into the Heavy Metal Hall Of Fame in the future, whenever that time will be. So for now, let us emblazon and succumb to the glory that is Arch Enemy. Pure Fucking Metal. m/
War Eternal: 10/10
[tube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lXuZHkOoH8[/tube]
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If you haven’t realized yet, Swedish Giants Arch Enemy recently released their latest single/video titled Stolen Life. Taken from their monstrous and phenomenal album, War Eternal, the track brings in a rather intriguing theme. Hopefully you’ve had the chance to listen to the album as its been out for almost a year now, if not it’s about time you get on that, seriously! Also it’s great to see the band is still touring heavily in support of War Eternal as well. I really admire this track as it tests us in terms of trustworthiness with the people we associate themselves with. As the lyrics scream, “Do you ever really know someone until you look away? Misplaced my trust, only to learn, Honesty is just a word.” Of course the instrumentals do not disappoint at all with heavy riffs, killer shred, headbanging rhythms and light symphonics, it’s a perfect track. Since the release of the album, the group parted ways with short-time guitarist Nick Cordle who was with the group for around 2 years only and recruited ex-Nevermore guitarist, Jeff Loomis to the ranks. He looks to be a prominent and promising addition to the group. Overall, some brutal metal to adrenalize you, turn the volume up for this one, be prepared to go ballistic! Stay Metal m/
The Metal Alchemy 