Customer Reviews

Burning Bridges (Reis) (Dlx)

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(3)
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After such a promising album as was Stigmata I had good reason to anticipate better things from ARCH ENEMY. I read a review of this new CD that, while praising the album for the merits of its sound and quality songwriting, seemed to indicate that ARCH ENEMY hadn't offered their fans anything new. Let me begin with telling you why I disagree and why Burning Bridges is probably the best Death/Thrash album so far this year.

Firstly, lets discuss the concept of melodic Death Metal. It wasn't long ago when such a thing would have been considered heresy in the underground. Lets face it, 80's Death Metal was almost totally devoid of any melodic content of any sort. Then came Chuck Schuldiner's revolutionary harmonies and sweeping melodic leads applied to DEATH's music and a new variety of extreme music was thus created. We've seen our share of melodic Death Metal over the past few years but none, in my opinion, so melodic and so damn good as that played by ARCH ENEMY. What I love about this album is that the band make no effort to conceal the fact that they are melodic or that the songs were written expressly with that purpose in mind. This is the most melodic Death Metal album that I've ever heard. In addition to that its also one of the finest in years in terms of albums - period. I was still perfectly happy with listening to their previous release and now ARCH ENEMY serve up a thick portion of some seriously heavy and polished art. Burning Bridges is truly a professional sounding affair and one that, while remaining efficient in the brutality category, is extremely melodic and well-produced enough to attract fans from more tepid forms of Metal. I loved this friggin' album the moment the final song ended and I'm being honest when I tell you that I played this disc at least 8 times consecutively the night it arrived in my mailbox. I couldn't stop playing it!

Let's quickly run through some basic facts. Vocally, its great. Frontman Johan Liiva gets my vote for best Death Metal vocalist. He's vicious and powerful yet totally coherent. The drumming on this album is superb as well; thunderous in fact. Bassist Sharlee D'Angelo keeps the rythms heavy with a good solid foundation and, speaking of rythms, this brings us to the highlight of the album. The Amott brothers are two extraordinary guitarists. Their leads are spectacularly fluid and dynamic. Stirring harmonies, and entrancing leads keep your head spinning all throughout the album and its a relentless guitar assault from one track to the next. Frenetic leads and a cacophony of outstanding riffs bless this disc from the very beginning and by the final song, the title track, you are wishing this album was composed of just a couple of more. That's my biggest, and only, gripe with this disc. I think the record company could have pushed the band to inlcude more than 8 songs. But don't fret, all 8 songs are truly amazing. I think another factor in the sheer enjoyment I get out of this album is the moodiness it has. I've never heard a Death/Thrash album that I could honestly say made me feel good inside. This one does. And I can't recall listening to an album that had me itching to bang my head so damn hard! When you hear it you'll know what I mean. Just some of the excellent songs are "Dead Inside", "Pilgrim", "Silverwing", "Demonic Science" and "Seed of Hate"". ARCH ENEMY manage to pack in near-rock influences into their intense Death Metal structures and it works splendidly every time.

Burning Bridges is a beautiful step forward for ARCH ENEMY and an almost flawless creation.

Arch Enemy has quickly become one of my favorite bands, and a huge reason for that is this album. Now I see what all the hype is about; this album is a venomous beast that slaughters most other metal albums in history, yet with enough melodic flow that too few bands dare try to accomplish with this much heaviness.

The Amott brothers (Michael and Christopher) are such a tight guitar duo, they could easily give anyone a run for their money. Their interweaving rhythms, twin harmonies, and dazzling solos never fail to impress me. AND THEY CREDIT EVERY LEAD, SOLO, HARMONY, ETC.! Too many killer guitar duos fail to do this, and that is one of my biggest petpeeves with guitarists. Now I can so easily envision the brothers alternating their lead and rhythm duties.

The riffs and leads are probably my favorite aspect of this album. Take, for instance, the main riff to "Pilgrim;" it's sick enough in itself, but then listen to the riff in the pre-chorus - it is so uplifting and powerful, especially as Michael's lead comes in. Oh, and speaking of uplifting, just listen to the riffs of the chorus to "Silverwing" - this is coming from a METAL band, and yet it is one of the most uplifting, "feel-good" guitar riffs that I've ever heard in any song, ever. Quite a contrast is made on the title track, however, with slower, chugging riffs that mirror the dark, almost suicidal lyrics, making for a very bleak and emotional song.

Perhaps my favorite guitar solo is on "Demonic Science." After a series of riffs played at a lock-step rhythm, Christopher's lead slices up with such a moving finesse. Then Michael comes in with a sort of funky, trippy series of notes, and then they join in for an outro harmony that is nearly haunting. Beautiful stuff.

As much as the guitars dominate, they're not the only thing that's good about this album. Just listen to the intro to "Seed of Hate" - after a simply SICK opening riff, the guitars drop, opening an atmospheric passage where Sharlee D'Angelo's bass thrums a highly effective rhythm over Daniel Erlandsson's beat. The rhythm section of this band is highly underrated, I think; Sharlee's style is rather complex and always flows, forming a perfect backdrop for the guitars. Erlandsson has inhuman skills behind the set, with great use of double-bass pedals and snares; he is surely one of the best current metal drummers, if not one of the best ever (just listen to his work on "Angelclaw" and you will know what I mean!).

This was my introduction to Johan Liiva on vocals. I see what people mean about his performance as a death metal vocalist; he has an impressive range of low-end growls and grunts, to higher-pitched wails of uncompromising fury that is easily recognizable as his own. Comparing him to the band's current vocalist, the great (and gorgeous) Angela Gossow, I will agree that while Liiva has a better range, Gossow still fills his shoes very well. Not many other females can do what she does, and she does her job very well.

Perhaps my one and only complaint about this album is the length. Clocking in at a mere 35 1/2 minutes, this album surely could have used another bunch of songs to expand it to at least 45. Then again, if Arch Enemy had tried putting more songs on here, perhaps it would have "wanked" a bit. Regardless of the length, this album is simply FLAWLESS, and one of the most important and fantastic in the world of melodic death metal.

Arch Enemy is perhaps the purest sound of "Swedish melodic death metal" or the "Gothenburg sound" still in existence. Crushing death riffs, roaring vocals, catchy guitar leads, intense writing and insatiable metal energy. With eight songs, in total clocking in around 38 minutes, songs are concise and tight and equally memorable. Some of the riffs can be a little cheesy and Iron Maidenish, but at their best, Arch Enemy lays down a fatter thrashdown than any Metallica song ("Demonic Science", "Angelclaw"), play the catchiest guitar lick that will bring out the air guitarist in anybody ("Silverwing", "Dead Inside"), and puts it all together into an unbeatable package with killer guitar solos. "Seeds of Hate" could have been a huge metal anthem had it been around during the 80s, while the title track is a slowed-down sludge of barely-changing, ultra-heavy riffs that revels in its dim, stifling emotional atmosphere. This one is especially interesting because it evaporates into chiming guitars chords and mellotron that shows a less appreciated side of Michael Amott's talent -- writing *beautiful* music. A very powerful song, and very unlike the others on this album. Final note: Daniel Erlandsson's drumming is fracking HUGE. Oh, and I prefer Johan Liiva's hostile bark to the abrasive screeching of Angela Gossow (who performs the vocals on their last album, _Wages of Sin_). Consider this an essential purchase.

Taking the skillful playing of Iron Maiden, the crushing riffs of At The Gates, the occasional speed of Slayer and the best solos besides Malmsteen in one group is exactly what Arch Enemy does. These guys are VERY skilled, all five of them. If you like any of the above groups then don't hesitate to check out Arch Enemy, metal in its rawest and more destructive form.

As compared to Stigmata, this album is so much less darker. Stigmata, in my opinion is a masterpiece but not as melodic as Burning Bridges. Here, the Ammott brothers show everyone that they are the best at making those great guitar leads. Arch Enemy is my choice for most catchiest, emotional guitar solos off of Sweden. At least with this album, I've established that.
As compared to Anthems of Rebellion, this album may be shorter but so much better. Anthems is a totally different band and the guitars are just ordinary! There is nothing emotional about them and they tend to be either thrash or just nu-metal-like in that album.

This album is my favorite out of the three arch enemy cds I have. Though Arch Enemy are big on guitar riffs the band sounds great all around; the drums are pummeling and faster than the previous records, and Liiva (better than the chick they now have on vocals) has refined his yelling and furious growls. More than a little bit of power metal sound to this album (Iron Maiden-esque dual guitar onslaught.) One of the greatest supergroups formed; Christopher Amott, Johan Liiva (Non-Exist, Carnage,) Sharlee D'Angelo (Merciful Fate,) Micheal Amott(Carnage, Carcass,) and Daniel Erlandsson.

This is one of those few albums that truly demonstrates to the utmost a band's ability to please. The Ammott Bros. pull off some amazing guitar work here, and, if you're a fan of well polished heavy metal, it's nearly impossible NOT to like this album. Their dual lead guitar work sounds nearly impossible to surpass. From beginning to end, "Burning Bridges" brings an assault of highly technical guitars, thunderous & well timed drums, and excellent bass and vocals. The album's hit single, 'The Immortal', is an incredibly heavy onslaught, and if you pick up the double-disc of Arch Enemy's newest release "Wages of Sin" then you can check out the awesome music video for 'The Immortal' as well. Johan's vocals sounds as though they're in their prime, and the rest of the band makes sure none of the songs disappoint. This is a great album for just about every fan of heavy music. Highly recommended!

I have always been reluctent listener to any death metal. Then I heard a few guys talk about Arch Enemy on very good terms. So, I decided to check it out myself. I went down to the store on found this beauty. I turned this thing on in my car and my mouth dropped. Burning Bridges is an excellent album superb in every aspect and now Arch Enemy is my favourite band. My God, the Amott brothers are amazing their ability makes me want to burn my guitar as a sacrafice in an alter dedicated to them or just make my lazy ... to play better. The drumming great and bass to. I also heard some of their newest album with there new singer and I have to say she fills the shoes of Johan pretty damn good. (As usual can't forget to say she is pretty damn hot to.) This cd has brought me into a new horizion of musical style and made me improve in my playing ablities I eagerly suggest you people to buy this album and buy it fast.

Arch enemy is a Death/thrash band from Sweden. They were the first underground metal band i heard and i've been hooked ever since. Coming out of sweden with great band's like InFlames, Dark Tranquility and At the Gates Arch enemy stands out.this cd is great because it is brutal and beautiful. They go from such pounding riffs to incredible melody. The solos are long and melodic. The riffs make you want to mash the minute you here them. The singing stands out because in the other bands i metioned before, when they sing they growl, Arch enemy's singer yells but he's still understandable. This is a great cd and anyone thats into extreme metal should by this.

Aah yes. 'Tis another metal band from that overpopulated realm of Swedish Metal, but who said that was a bad thing. One band that has managed to stick it out and already begin to leave their mark on the death metal world is Arch Enemy. This disc is an example of years of practice and hard work, and the reward is given in the form of many dedicated and loyal followers. As most of you know, this is Arch Enemy's third release. Their previous effort, Stigmata, in more ways than one, was a bit of a departure for the band, both musically and vocally. With Burning Bridges; however, the band returns to what made Black Earth such a killer debut. The songs are nice, tight, and short not to mention catchy and brutally heavy. The guitars are perfect, the drumming is perfect, the bass is perfect, and even the vocals, which many shun as being the weak link for the band, are incredibly powerful. I urge all of you metal heads to pick this up straight away. You can't go wrong when it comes to Sweden especially bands like Arch Enemy.