Swedish melodic death metal band ARCH ENEMY is back in 2014 with the epic new studio effort titled “War Eternal”. Longtime lead vocalist Angela Gossow is out of the picture now and hot rocking Canadian Alissa White-Gluz (ex-THE AGONIST) steps in to take it all to a new level. I am very impressed by her powerful singing on this ‘Grade-A’ collection of pit starters. It was a noble move by Gossow, who still remains the band’s manager, because I feel Alissa White-Gluz has a much more brutal vocal delivery and will be able to help this band achieve greater things in the future. Joining her for the heavy metal onslaught are guitarists Michael Amott and Nick Cordle (ex-ARSIS). Sharlee D’Angelo handles bass duties and Daniel Erlandsson annihilates the drums.
The chaos kicks off with the totally slamming “Never Forgive, Never Forget”, followed by the furious title track “War Eternal”. White-Gluz cries out, “Remember who you are!” The guitar solo on this cut is top notch. Next up are the mosh worthy “As The Pages Burn”, the speedy “No More Regrets”, which is my favorite song on the album. The vocals are just brilliant and the musicianship is out of this world good on this track.
The next songs, “You Will Know My Name”, the instrumental “Graveyard Of Dreams”, and the pummeling “Stolen Life” are all solid and keep the momentum going no problem. Track nine’s “Time Is Black” starts out with a wicked keyboard opening played by Amott and then one killer ass riff erupts. It is easily my second favorite cut on the album. The guitar solo on this song is simply fantastic and the overall composition is masterful. Just when you think the band might run out of gas at this point, track ten’s “On And On” goes off in your face like lit gun powder. White-Gluz sounds like an absolute beast and her talent will undoubtedly kick you square in your private parts.
The record concludes with “Avalanche”, “Down To Nothing” and the instrumental “Not Long For This World”. I am giving this album a perfect score because it achieved what most heavy music albums fail at today, being able to keep my interest from start to finish and blowing me away with surprises at every turn. I can’t wait to hear more music from the White-Gluz fronted ARCH ENEMY, because she has certainly got the goods for the gig.
ROCKET REVIEW:
[starreview tpl=16]
ARCH ENEMY – “War Eternal” (CD)
(Century Media Records/2014)
1. Tempore Nihil Sanat (Prelude In F Minor)
2. Never Forgive, Never Forget
3. War Eternal
4. As The Pages Burn
5. No More Regrets
6. You Will Know My Name
7. Graveyard Of Dreams
8. Stolen Life
9. Time Is Black
10. On And On
11. Avalanche
12. Down To Nothing
13. Not Long For This World
http://www.archenemy.net
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