ARCH ENEMY – War Eternal (2014)

Sharpen your ears and ingratiate your sceptical souls, because „War eternal“ is knocking on the door, warning: „this is f *** ing war!“. In this battle of proving out yourself there are no loosers. Except maybe that part of the people who are frustrated by what they have heard or so or else have never liked/heard the vocals of Alissa.

Commenting on the abrupt, unexpected (but ultimatelysuccessful) change in the line-up of Arch Enemy is inevitable. Many people forget about Johan, who held the vocals before Angela to become the emblem of the band. And an Idol for many of us – as a vocalist, as a woman (and as a female vocalist), fitness-motivator, etc. It is appropriate to honor her decision to withdraw and to take the fact that she herself has chosen Alissa White-Gluz. I am personally one of those those who knew Alissa‘s abilities and liked her much even before the change of direction in Arch Enemy. Her extreme vocals, coupled with the clean ones, supported visually by her flawless vision, make this a super package, from which a band would hardly complain. Well, apparently The Agonist have another opinion, but as I see, they are doing great even without her (:

The news about the upcoming album made us very interested; the warmly accepted„Khaos Legions“ (2011) left indelible emotional and musical coups with which Arch Enemy finally took their permanent place on the contemporary metal scene. And even if we look incredulously to the blue-haired lady, doubting in her allotted place, prejudice slowly began to give up after the beginning of „Never Forgive, Never Forge“ and the beautiful musical intro „Tempore Nihil Sanat“. The barriers are finally dropped with scoring the super „heavy“ „War Eternal“ and„As The Pages Burn“. The guitars are running, the drums are struggling to catch up with them, but the band’s trademark – the mellifluence – here is a constant as well. Just that particular rough, somber (and wonderful) melodiousness in the music of Arch Enemy, contrasting the more dark and raw, harsh vocals, are what make them so special and distinct in the genre.

No matter if they change five more vocalists (and why not the male ones?), the important thing in this type of changes are the principles; to retain that which is built up by then. The list of „fallen“ replacing musicians is endless. I’m glad that Alissa is not a part of it – as Angela wasn’t.