ARMAGEDDON – Album Reissues Announced

Commented Chris Amott: “It is with great pleasure that I announce the first time ever release of these albums in Europe and the U.S.! Any fan of melodic hard rock and shred guitar playing should check this out — ‘Embrace the Mystery’ and ‘Three’ feature many great instrumental performances and epic songs! These two albums were recorded in 2000 and 2002 and have until only been available in Japan. I put a lot of work into these recordings at the time, so I am glad to see them come out!”

Originally formed in Halmstad, Sweden in 1997, ARMAGEDDON was launched as a melodic death metal act, with the band’s debut album, “Crossing The Rubicon”, released via the now-defunct W.A.R. Records label in Europe and Toy’s Factory in Japan. Next to guitarist and mastermind Chris Amott, the album also featured drummer Peter Wildoer (DARKANE, MAJESTIC, now also in PESTILENCE) and bassist Martin Bengtsson, who both then moved on to join ARCH ENEMY, recording, releasing and touring ARCH ENEMY’s 1998 “Stigmata” release. Chris revisited ARMAGEDDON with 2000’s “Embrace The Mystery” album, once again released in Japan on Toy’s Factory but never available internationally. This album presented a rather melodic and traditional metal approach and featured LAST TRIBE member Rickard Bengtsson on vocals, Dick Lövgren on bass (now member of MESHUGGAH but previously a touring bassist for bands like EUCHARIST, ARCH ENEMY and IN FLAMES) as well as ARCH ENEMY drummer Daniel Erlandsson (also previously active with EUCHARIST and IN FLAMES and currently a member of the reunited CARCASS). Following the album’s release, ARMAGEDDON supported IN FLAMES and THE HAUNTED on a Japanese tour, which remain the only live performances for the band until now. In 2002 ARMAGEDDON released its third and (so far) last album exclusively in Japan again. Simply entitled “Three”, it showcases ARMAGEDDON as a three-piece, with Chris Amott handling all vocal duties next to playing guitar as well as Daniel Erlandsson on drums and new bassist Tobias Gustafsson (EUCHARIST).

The “Embrace The Mystery & Three” 2CD set marks the long-overdue international release of these two jewels of modern Scandinavian melodic metal, not only including the full original versions of both albums packaged in a revamped version of the original “Embrace The Mystery” artwork by Niklas Sundin (DARK TRANQUILLITY, ARCH ENEMY, IN FLAMES), but also comes with six special bonus tracks (demo and rehearsal songs as well as cover versions of IRON MAIDEN and MERCYFUL FATE) and liner notes by Chris Amott. “Embrace The Mystery & Three” isn’t only an essential historical release for collectors of the mentioned main bands of the involved high-quality players but with its total of 26 tracks and 100-plus minutes of playing time it also represents a worthwhile purchase for supporters of the melodic metal genre in general!

“Embrace The Mystery & Three” 2CD (102:26) track listing:

CD 1 “Embrace The Mystery” (47:45):

01. Awakening (0:38)
02. The Broken Spell (4:29)
03. Blind Fury (4:07)
04. Worlds Apart (3:06)
05. Cry Of Fate (5:07)
06. Illusions Tale (4:22)
07. Moongate Climber (2:45)
08. Embrace The Mystery (3:25)
09. Sleep Of Innocence (3:51)
10. Grain Of Sand (3:38)
11. Worlds Apart (Rehearsal) (3:03) *
12. The Broken Spell (Rehearsal) (3:42) *
13. Die With Your Boots On (IRON MAIDEN cover) (5:33) *

* Bonus Tracks

CD 2 “Three” (54:41):

01. Gathering Of The Storm (0:59)
02. Burn The Sun (4:25)
03. Stranglehold (4:39)
04. Heart Of Ice (3:53)
05. Well Of Sadness (6:04)
06. Rainbow Serpent (4:37)
07. Winter Skies (4:02)
08. Final Destination (4:29)
09. Spirit Kiss (2:17)
10. The Contract (5:04)
11. Winter Skies (Demo) (4:05) *
12. Sands Of Time (Demo) (5:46) *
13. Desecration Of Souls (MERCYFUL FATE cover) (4:21) *

* Bonus Tracks

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