Music Review: Arch Enemy – Khaos Legions

I can think of no finer band than Arch Enemy that has ruined its chances of remaining legendary. With songwriting and musicianship of this nature, they would have been sitting pretty in my list of all-time top metal bands if they’d still had Johan Liiva. It may be none of my business, but Liiva’s was the style that matched Arch Enemy’s music. His gruff vocal delivery and the lyrical depth he brought with him blended with classy riffs and smoking hot guitar solos stirred up by the Amott brothers and together with the thumping bass and airtight drumming, Arch Enemy made for splendid listening. Just listen to Burning Bridges from start to end and you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Even as Khaos Legions begins with an instrumental, I know what is in store: Terrific music with poorly placed vocals singing immature lyrics – it’s been this way since fucking 2001. Angela Gossow can produce harsh growls alright, but the only reason I’m even giving this a listen is because I know what kind of tension the brothers Amott can create. I’ve heard it on Black Earth and Stigmata and Burning Bridges with Johan Liiva singing deeply emotional lyrics in his nihilistic way. And I’ve heard Angela Gossow do it all wrong on Wages Of Sin and the albums that followed.

Yeah, the music review. Arch Enemy makes fucking killer music. The riffing is insane and the guitar solos are smoking hot. Ditto for bass and the drums. This is melodic death metal that pummels you.

The novelty of a bodacious female death metal growler may attract countless young fans from all over the globe, but the bad singing is not fooling me one bit, and till the end of time will I lament the loss of one of my favourite bands only because the microphone is in the wrong hands.

RATING: 2/5

READ MORE MUSIC REVIEWS:

Torchbearer – Death Meditations
Morbid Angel – Illud Divinum Insanus
Amorphis – The Beginning Of Times
Samael – Lux Mundi
Septic Flesh – The Great Mass

Music Review: Amorphis – The Beginning Of Times (2011)

Amorphis released some of the most beautiful music ever in the form of their last album Skyforger. The Beginning Of Times has all the elements of Skyforger except that the songs on this one aren’t as explosive. Amorphis, having released a perfect album, had sent my expectations shooting through the stratosphere, and I have to say they’ve done a fine job of following it up. Amorphis sounds sweet as ever, the sound taking over everything else. A confident, clean voice singing and wholesome growling done very tastefully, with the guitar, bass and drums all complementing each other and making room for other instruments to enhance the mood, and female vocals in places, and the absolutely perfect choruses – this album sounds like the sequel to Skyforger. The melodies, though not as infectious, grow on you over a few listens, and the songwriting – fuck, man… these guys are probably making the best music in the world right now. The songs aren’t as catchy as the ones on Skyforger, but they demand your complete attention… even if you’re going to use this album as music to play while you go about your daily chores, The Beginning Of Times will keep you fully engaged. If I put aside my unfair expectations of getting another Skyforger from Amorphis and imagine the whole deal to be a double album with The Beginning Of Times as the second one, everything does fall into place. The music is beautiful as ever… not as uplifting as its predecessor, but more soothing. Skyforger took you floating in the clouds, with a cool breeze touching your face and skin, and as if sea waves were caressing your feet at the same time. With The Beginning Of Times you find yourself in a water body under a natural waterfall and you don’t ever want to leave because you just can’t have enough of the pampering.

RATING: 3.5/5