Arch Enemy released their twelfth album, “Blood Dynasty”, via Century Media — and Blabbermouth called it “as intense and murderous as anything Michael Amott’s international outfit has ever released,” with a surprise extra ballad. “Another resounding victory for the real thing.”
Country: Sweden
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
For fans of: Amon Amarth, In Flames, Children of Bodom
The listen
In their 30 years, Arch Enemy have never deviated from the recipe of “pure fucking metal”: explosive, excessive and technically dazzling extremity. Since Alissa White-Gluz joined in 2014 they have been unstoppable, and “Blood Dynasty” finds the violence and the melody in full, wild growth. Those expecting radical departures will be disappointed — but that very consistency is the band’s strength.
“Dream Stealer” opens with the trademark venomous mood, with the guitars sinking deeper into the death metal maelstrom. “March of the Miscreants” is dirty, malicious and deliberately off-balance, with syncopated riffs and a chorus-cry of unity. “Don’t Look Down” twists the form with furious verses that explode into a colossal chorus, and White-Gluz sounds stronger than ever.
Standing out are the classic metal landscape of “Paper Tiger,” the majestic inspiration of “A Million Suns” and the mid-paced melodic magic of “Illuminate the Path.” The big asset, though, is the cover of the 1985 power ballad “Vivre Libre” by the French band Blaspheme — the first time White-Gluz sings cleanly across an entire track, and she pulls it off superbly. A band with nothing left to prove that remains heroically consistent, three decades after its hushed beginnings.
Tracklist
1. Dream Stealer
2. Illuminate the Path
3. March of the Miscreants
4. A Million Suns
5. Don’t Look Down
6. Presage
7. Blood Dynasty
8. Paper Tiger
9. Vivre Libre
10. The Pendulum
11. Liars & Thieves
See also
Blue Medusa: Alissa White-Gluz’s first live show · Arch Enemy – Lauren Hart makes her European debut
