Throughout his career, former Carcass guitarist and Arch Enemy founding member Michael Amott has never been concerned with conformity. In 1996, his pursuit to merge melody with aggression and technicality led him to collaborate with brother Christopher Amott, drummer Daniel Erlandsson, and vocalist Johan Liiva. Without even circulating a demo, they teamed up with the celebrated producer Fredrik Nordström and delivered Arch Enemy’s debut, 'Black Earth' – an album that is still hailed as a milestone in Swedish death metal. In a completely unexpected turn of events, Angela Gossow - a completely unknown vocalist from Germany - replaced Johan Liiva in 2001 and delivered a staggering debut performance on the 'Wages Of Sin' album (produced by Fredrik Nordström and mixed by Andy Sneap), marking the first time a band of this caliber and ferocity was fronted by a woman. The band include members from Carcass, Armageddon, Hearse and Mercyful Fate. They fit into the NWOSDM (New Wave Of Swedish Death Metal) genre. Melodic, yet brutal!

STIGMATA (1998) CENTURY MEDIA

Beast Of Man Stigmata - instrumental Sinister Mephisto Dark Of The Sun Let The Killing Begin Black Earth Tears Of The Dead Vox Stellarum - instrumental Bridge Of Destiny

Line-up: Johan Liiva: Vocals Michael Amott: Lead Guitar Christopher Amott: Lead Guitar Martin Bergström: Bass Daniel Erlandsson: Drums

This is a fine disc indeed. Brutal, yet melodic. It's one of those albums I never listen to in one go. The only thing is that when I want to listen to melodic death metal, I find myself putting on In Flames instead.

Killer tracks: Sinister Mephisto, Stigmata

WAGES OF SIN (2002) CENTURY MEDIA (SUPREME 2-CD EDITION)

You couldn't have convinced me in a thousand years that it is a female singer on this record, if it hadn't been for all the interviews and reviews I've read. Angela Gossow's voice doesn't stand back to any of her male colleagues, and she is the only female singer I've ever heard, who I can say this about. And the Amott-brothers have musically come up with a masterpiece this time. Arch Enemy have grown to be one of the finest melodic death metal band around, and have released the album to prove it. All the tracks are phenomenal, even the instrumental. Strip away the vocals, and you have a great melodic power metal platter, similar in style to bands like Nocturnal Rites. When I got this album (thanks Arttie!) I couldn't take it out of my player the first week! It's truly one of the best albums in it's genre. The second disc contains the old line-up, and it is a from-the-vaults collection. Smokin' covers of Judas Priest's "Starbreaker", Iron Maiden's "Aces High" and Europe's "Scream Of Anger" (imagine this in a death metal sound!) are very cool. The rest are bonus-tracks from Japanese releases. This album is A MUST!!

Killer tracks: The are all GREAT, but I hold "Heart Of Darkness" as an over-the-top favorite.

ANTHEMS OF REBELLION (2003) CENTURY MEDIA (CD/DVD)

Arch Enemy return with yet another stunning album. The production, courtesy of Andy Sneap, is razor-sharp, and shows a band in all it's glory. Angela is growling and sneering, and the Amott brothers have arguably never sounded better. More melody, yet more aggression. I even sense a closer connection to thrash metal, as an opposite to their former death metal relationship. But don't worry, the changes are nowhere near radical enough to alarm anyone. The album starts off very strong, but I'm not sure that I find the entire album equally strong all the way through. Not quite sure why, because all the tracks are individually very competent songs. But as a whole I get a bit bored after the first 5 or 6 tracks. But any fan of this band, or of the Gothenburg-sound. This is a safe buy! My version is the first edition with a bonus, audio-only, DVD.

Killer tracks: Silent Wars, We Will Rise, Dead Eyes See No Future, Exist To Exit

DEAD EYES SEE NO FUTURE EP (2004) CENTURY MEDIA (EP)

Dead Eyes See No Future Burning Angel (Live in Paris 2004) We Will Rise (Live in Paris 2004) Heart Of Darkness (Live in Paris 2004) Symphony Of Destruction Kill With Power Incarnated Solvent Abuse We Will Rise (Enhanced Video Clip)

A sweet EP that is really giving you your moneys worth. Of the 7 tracks on it, you'll only find 1 album track. The rest are live versions and cover songs. Amongst the live tunes, it's cool to hear Angela tear up "Burning Angel", from the album recorded before she joined the band. The other 2 are both favorites of mine. The cover songs are as follows: "Symphony Of Destruction" (Megadeth, well played, but Angela sounds like she is singing under water!), "Kill With Power" (Manowar, nah, doesn't work) and "Incarnated Solvent Abuse" (Carcass, of course the best one here. A great match for this band). There is also a video clip for "We Will Rise".

DOOMSDAY MACHINE (2005) CENTURY MEDIA (Ltd. edition w/3" DVD)

Arch Enemy have really found their formula for success, after Angela showed up. This is their 3rd album with the little German lady, with the lions roar of a voice, behind the mic. And whatever I said about the 2 other albums hold true for this one as well. In fact, my write-up of 'Anthems Of Rebellion' could just as well have been written for 'Doomsday Machine' too. It might be a bit more melodic in approach compared to the previous 2. But nothing really that noticeable. One has to love how the Amott brothers spice up their songs with these little details here and there. Be it a riff, a little keyboard-sample or whatever, it just works. Pure brilliance. I can't imagine any fan of the band being let down by this CD. The limited edition comes with an embossed cardboard wrapper, and a cute 3" bonus DVD. It holds the video-clip for 'Nemesis', plus some live footage. Kudos to Century Media for their bonus stuff!

Killer tracks: Taking Back My Soul, Nemesis, My Apocalypse, Carry The Cross, Slaves Of Yesterday

RISE OF THE TYRANT (2007) CENTURY MEDIA (Ltd. edition w/3" DVD)

CD: Blood On Your Hands The Last Enemy I Will Live Again In This Shallow Grave Revolution Begins Rise Of The Tyrant The Day You Dies Intermezzo Liberté - instrumental Night Falls Fast The Great Darkness Vultures	Line-up: Angela Gossow: Vocals Michael Amott: Lead & Rhythm Guitar Christopher Amott: Lead & Rhythm Guitar Sharlee D'Angelo: Bass Guitar Daniel Erlandsson: Drums
DVD: I Am Legend/Out For Blood - live Diva Satanica - live On The Road Movie

2 years have gone since the last Arch Enemy album. In that period of time the band saw co-founder Christopher Amott leave, and then come back again. Thus the line-up is once again the same as on the last 3 albums. 'Rise Of The Tyrant' is exactly what you'd expect from these guys, and girl, by now. Once again they have gone a little more towards the melodic side of things, and I don't think any previous Arch Enemy album have had quite so many guitar solos on them. At least not so many noticeable once. But fear not, we still get some ultra brutal tunes here too. Just check out "The Last Enemy". This is the prototype for brilliant melodic death metal! I see a new trend in the metal circuits where some of the bands that got hailed only a few years ago are now being ridiculed, and talked down. Hammerfall was the first band this happened too, and sadly now it seems that time has come for Arch Enemy. But I don't care what other people say, I just listen to the music, and like what I like. And I do like 'Rise Of The Tyrant'. I just can't see how any fan of 'Wages Of Sin', or any of the other Gossow-era Arch Enemy albums should have anything bad to say about the new one. It's their loss, I reckon. This is pure heavy metal, mixed with growling vocals, and a solid portion of thrash metal thrown in. What's not to like? I bought the Limited Edition of the album. It comes with a #2 bonus DVD, with some live tracks, and a "road movie". Sadly it didn't come with the splendid cover of the Kiss classic, "The Oath", that appears on the Japanese version of the album.

Killer tracks: They all get my blood pumpin'!

Christopher Amott guest appearances:

In Flames - 'Clayman'

Michael Amott guest appearances:

Armageddon - 'Crossing The Rubicon'

Related artists:

Carcass, Armageddon, Hearse, Candlemass