Review By Heather Laing Recommended for fans of: Behemoth, Carcass, Unto Others.
Pull your metal friends close as the Arch Enemy draws closer. The melodic death metal band of your dreams returns to bring us their brand-new album ‘Deceivers.’
That’s right my friends, your eyes do not (technically) deceive you!
For many that have been in the alternative scene for quite some time, Arch Enemy’s successful career will certainly be no secret. The band has become a household name in the death metal scene, and with fifteen albums, fifteen singles, and a concert history so long that it would take the entire review to write it down; I doubt anyone is going to question the place and power they hold within their chosen genre. If the Halmstad supergroup is like the death-metal Avengers, then Arch Enemy is definitely one of its most powerful members; having taken the scene by storm in all the ways they can and more, amassing an army of fans along the way.
It is to these fans that I bring the most incredible news, as the band have announced not only their brilliant brand-new album ‘Deceivers,’ but an upcoming UK tour from September to October. This album is truly incredible to hear and will no doubt appeal to fans seeking nostalgia as well as newcomers looking for their next favourite band. Each song is a wild and ferocious melody of powerful screaming vocals (and may we take a moment to acknowledge the incredible Alissa White-Gluz for being such a phenomenal source of female empowerment in an often male-fronted music scene), accompanied with some of the wildest and out of this world guitar and drum solos you could ever hope to hear.
Within this particular track list, the band have kept to their traditional ways of releasing one song early to the public, the song from this particular album being ‘In The Eye Of The Storm’. This track is certainly one that pays homage to the incredible talent that goes into the drum and guitars, with an introduction that could honestly be used to hail the arrival of an army. As always, the vocals are incredible, and the lyrics tell a powerful and determined story about delving forward into the abyss in order to pursue freedom and unleash the beast within. If nothing else, Arch Enemy certainly knows how to get you excited for an upcoming release. For fans to be teased with a song so incredible, and then told to wait almost another month for the rest of the album… I mean, damn! Are you guys okay?
Well, if the answer is no then I hope I can assure you with my comforting words and reassurances of what’s to come over the next couple of days. I’m telling you now, if you thought ‘In The Eye Of The Storm‘ was good, then you haven’t seen (or heard) anything yet!
While each song is admittedly very heavy by design (as one would expect) there are certainly a few that draw more upon different aspects of the bands talents, thus making them uniquely different. ‘Handshake With Hell,’ ‘The Watcher’, and ‘House Of Mirrors’ are all tracks certain to please those that favour the fast paced and aggressive songs of the bands work, but these three also stand out particularly well through their use of lighting fast and literally electrifying guitar; whether it is played in the introduction, alongside the vocals, or during masterful guitar solos performed between the verses. Similarly, the tracks ‘Deceiver‘ and ‘Exiled From Earth‘ perform under a similar fashion, but in these instances, it is the drum and bass that are given the chance to shine and stand out respectively. Although this is not to say that every song within the track list is designed as an all-encompassing fireball of speed and ferocity from start to finish. Tracks ‘Poison Arrow‘ and ‘Spreading Beneath Black Wings’ are still certainly heavy in their own right, but the tempo with which they are set is certainly much slower than their counterparts, with one resembling a steady battle chant to the other telling a bittersweet story about regret. The most unique of all, however, has to go to ‘Mourning Star.’ This track contains absolutely no lyrics and is solely composed of acoustic guitars with some slight background noises, making it as beautiful as it is haunting. If ‘Spreading Beneath Black Wings’ is a battle chant, then ‘Mourning Star’ is the aftermath of the war, with the victors standing and staring across the fields as they take in the destruction.
Truly I believe if you are a die-hard fan of Arch Enemy’s work, then this is one album that was definitely worth the wait. And on the other hand, if you are new to discovering the band, then I strongly implore you to take the time and have a listen to what this brilliant band has to offer. This album is an incredible example of musical talent and just melodic death metal over-all, and I have no doubt it will be quick to join the Arch Enemy hall of fame alongside their other masterpieces. Whether they’re on your phone, in your CD rack, or just blasting out of the car radio; this is most definitely one enemy that you should certainly strive to keep close.
‘Deceivers’ Track Listing:
Handshake With Hell
Deceiver, Deceiver
In The Eye Of The Storm
The Watcher
Poison Arrow
Sunset Over the Empire
House Of Mirrors
Spreading Balck Wings
Mourning Star
One Last Time
Exiled From Earth
Release date: 12th August 2022 via Century Media
Pre-order ‘Deceivers’: HERE
ARCH ENEMY UK tour dates:
Tue 27th Sep – DUBLIN Olympia Theatre – Last few tix available
Thu 29th Sep – GLASGOW O2 Academy
Fri 30th Sep – MANCHESTER O2 Academy
Sat 1st Oct – BIRMINGHAM O2 Academy
Sun 2nd Oct – LONDON O2 Academy Brixton
