Arch Enemy is a band that has survived many changes to become a major contender in the metal world today. The band, originating in Sweden, was founded in 1996 by former Carcass guitarist Michael Amott who was joined by his brother Christopher Amott, drummer Daniel Erlandsson and initial vocalist Johan Liva. Before long they teamed up with producer Fredrik Nordstrom and delivered Arch Enemy's debut album Black Earth, an album that is said to have recreated Swedish death metal.
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The band went on to release a second well received album, Stigmata before welcoming Mercyful Fate bassist Sharlee D'Angelo into the fold. By 1999 they produced Burning Bridges, an album that prompted a North American tour and gathered critical acclaim everywhere.
Christopher Amott decided there were still changes that needed to be made before the band could move forward and unexpectedly hired an unknown German vocalist by the name of Angela Gossow to replace Johan Liva. In the year 2001 Gossow proved her worth with the staggering release of the album Wages of Sin. She debuted live in Los Angeles to a sold out crowd in March of 2002 and has taken the world by the balls ever since. They have achieved their attempts at blending melody with sheer aggression and proved once again that a woman can front a band with as much ferociousness and aggression as any man in the business.
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Signed to renowned Century Media records, Arch Enemy is rapidly rising out of Sweden's underground and taking the metal world by storm.
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Following their success the band teamed up with producer Andy Sneap for their latest effort, Anthems of Rebellion. This is an album where they reveal their musical depth and new found level of confidence, their cohesiveness within the lineup and growth as musicians.
The band has been on the verge of major acceptance and in addition to their international success Arch Enemy has recently been touring with Slayer and Hatebreed on the Jagermeister tour spreading their brand of brutal yet melodic death metal. (See Live Review)
The band goes on to prove it doesn't matter that you have a hot, foreign, front woman. It's about the music the band makes together, each member playing an equally important part. With that said Gossow is just as brutal as any male vocalist.
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She came into the band after interviewing Arch Enemy for an online music zine, and subsequently giving them a demo tape of her with her current band. After deciding that Liva no longer fit into the bands future, Chris Amott remembered the demo tape and they decided to audition Gossow, and the audition turned into a permanent arrangement that changed all of their futures forever.
Aptly termed "Masters of melodic Metal" Arch Enemy have proved their staying power and their ability to produce quality music album after album. They have risen above all the standards out there and become a force by their own right. For more on the band buy their latest album "Anthems of Rebellion" or check out their website at www.archenemy.net.
