Arch Enemy -
Anthems of Rebellion| Arch Enemy -
Anthems of Rebellion |
I’ve been a fan of Michael Amott since his work on Carcass’ early 90’s masterpieces Necroticism and Heartwork. Since then, he’s kept himself busy with two completely different bands – Spiritual Beggars and Arch Enemy (and a one-album stint with Candlemass).
Arch Enemy, formed with his fellow guitarist brother, Christopher Amott, has basically been an extension of where Carcass’ Heartwork left off – melodic death/thrash with prominent guitar solos. I loved the first two Arch Enemy albums, but starting with 1999’s Burning Bridges, although the great solos and overall craftsmanship were there, I just didn’t get too excited about it. Despite a change in vocalists on their last album, 2001’s Wages of Sin, Arch Enemy haven’t changed their sound much since their first album in 1996. To be fair, M. Amott helped pioneer this style, so I suppose he has more of a right to run it into the ground than others.
Here we are with Arch Enemy 2003, and it basically looks the same as Arch Enemy 2001. If you really liked Wages of Sin, I see no reason why you wouldn’t like Anthems of Rebellion. Anthems is perhaps a bit more polished and has a sort-of concept album feel to it – all the lyrics are about “rebellion” of some sort, seeming to hint at an oppressed, enslaved society about to riot.The good points: the Amott brothers are two of the most fluid guitarists in metal. This doesn’t mean they’re the most technically gifted nor the speediest (they aren’t), but they have a knack for composing great guitar solos (and sometimes riffs) and making it look easy. Every Arch Enemy album puts on a clinic on How To Play Tasteful, Melodic Guitar Solos That Won’t Bore People Who Aren’t Guitarists Themselves.
The bad points: lyrics have always been a weak spot for Arch Enemy, at least in comparison with their peers. Nobody will mistake Michael Amott for a poet, but at least nothing here is embarrassingly bad. Vocalist Angela Gossow (yes, a female death vocalist, in case you didn’t already know that) seems less the novelty here than on her debut with the band. While she is undoubtedly a more refined, controlled snarler than her predecessor, Johan Liiva, she often suffers from the same monotony as his harsh bark. Though the music is more friendly and melodic than ever, Gossow has become even more extreme and reptilian with her beastly snarl. I’m sure the contrast was intentional, but sometimes her voice grates a bit too much when butted up against the smoother power metal-style riffs. You can debate whether bringing her aboard was a marketing gimmick (or a way for Mike Amott to weasel his girlfriend into the band), but she does indeed shred her vocal cords, sometimes sounding more monstrous than the music demands.The first few songs were rather uneventful, and I was actually prepared to put this album down as an overhyped piece of crap (which I’m sure will be done by others, though I’m sure many more will jump on the hype and praise it to no end). Things picked up with track 6, “Leader of the Rats”, which is just a nicely-riffed, classic metal sounding anthem. The next song, “Exist to Exit”, is a slow, brooding pounder which successfully summons the dark, menacing atmosphere this album often tries but fails to evoke. After a nice little acoustic instrumental, “Despicable Heroes” proves to be the most aggressive, ass-kicking song on the disc, despite its riffs sounding a little too close to At the Gates. The remainder of the album rocks nicely, though nothing fully kicks my ass. So this album does actually follow an unusual song-ordering pattern, putting the best songs smack in the middle.
Anthems of Rebellion is worth hearing for the Amott brothers’ typical guitar heroics and the overall production and musicianship are flawless, as would be expected. The album does fall short in the ass-kicking and originality departments, though, and the vocals are a mixed bag. I’ve heard the band is killer live, though (and this from people who aren’t big fans of the studio albums) so if ass-kicking is what you want, you may want to bypass buying this album and check them out live instead. Album Score: 7 out of 10
Reviewed by: Dave Smith
| Track #: | Song: | Band Member: | Instrument: | |
| 1 | Tear Down the Walls (Intro) | Angela Gossow | Lead vocals | 2 | Silent Wars | Michael Amott | Lead & rhythm guitar, backing | 3 | We Will Rise | Christopher Amott | Lead & rhythm guitar, backing | 4 | Dead Eyes See No Future | Sharlee D'Angelo | Bass guitar | 5 | Instinct | Daniel Erlandsson | Drums | 6 | Leader of the Rats | 7 | Exist to Exit | 8 | Marching on a Dead End Road | 9 | Despicable Heroes | 10 | End of the Line | 11 | Dehumanization | 12 | Anthem | 13 | Saints and Sinners |
| - I would love to bang Angela...Hell ya'! - Some of the lyrics are pretty embarrassing. It sounds as half-assed as some of the essays I wrote in high school. Guitars - great. Angela - boring. - REALITY CHECK!! Finally, a review of this album that is accurate. 7 out of 10. First two albums are better. - Riff-stealing bastards - Although not the best metal I've heard, it's worth a listen. Don't be too critical and you will enjoy it. - Moocow! - This is fucking awesome. Best of the only two (I wish for more) that I own. - Some ok metal, but far too polished and a terrible "Nu" influence riff in there, too. - That video "We Will Rise" is ripping off the song "Trust" from Megadeth. Am I the only one that hears this? - No, I hear it. Arch Enemy has made a career of stealing riffs. - Seems that the band is making an effort as far as the musical approach and being a live band, but their choosing of lyrical content is weak. Rating is 7/10. - Wages rules. This is not so good, especially the drumming, and nu-metal style "quiet bits" between decent riffs. - Horrible band. They've never released a good song in their career. - Seems that the band is making an effort as far as the musical approach and being a live band, but their choosing of lyrical content is weak. Rating is 7/10. - Cool as hell and Angela rules. - Stunning release!!! Not a masterpiece, but refreshing metal. Rating: 8/10. - Disgusting... Angela Gossow better than Johan Liiva? I think not. Arch Enemy's biggest mistake was firing Johan, and moreover, the guitarists seem like guys who don't know how to develop a style, or original work. AE is shit on a stick. - Nothing phenomenal here - just a good, heavy metal album. - This band is simply trying to use sex to sell albums. Unfortunately it's actually working. Metalheads need to wisen up! - As a big AE fan, I have to say I'm disappointed with this album. They're missing a lot of the intensity that made Stigmata so good. Thumbs in the middle. - Hey Mike, go steal another guitar riff. - Not as good as the old days (Stigmata rules), but still great guitar work. Some said riff stealing, but I disagree. - It's the best of death metals. - Daniel kills. The most underrated drummer in metal. Stunning. - "Dead Eyes See No Future" (this could be said to all those who don't understand the evolution of bands--you all have dead eyes). - Where did all the solos go?? I guess if I was bangin' Angela, I wouldn't feel like playing guitar anymore either. - More streamlined than Wages of Sin, but kickass nonetheless. - Killing work!!! But the style of this album is Melodic Death/Black metal!! Thanx!! - I liked Anthems enough to say yes is all. It's not always loaded in my CD player, though. It's good enough not to say no. - Fucking awesome. - I hate Angela Gossow! I'd like to hear what songs she sung would sound like if Johan Liiva sang these songs. - Arch Enemy's worst. Little originality and absolutely boring. |
| TTM reviews of other albums by Arch Enemy: | |
 | 2005 - 'Doomsday Machine' |
 | 2004 - 'Dead Eyes See No Future EP' |
 | 2002 - 'Wages of Sin' |
 | 1999 - 'Burning Bridges' |
| TTM editorials involving Arch Enemy: | |
