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Although I enjoy many types of music, in my mind nothing beats a good, balls-out metal album, and Arch Enemy have never failed to deliver in that regard. For almost a decade, and in spite of a drastic change in vocalists, this European crew has been cranking out almost impossibly tight and technically advanced compositions, and they're still going strong today. They've long been established as one metal's top bands, and "Anthems of Rebellion" should only cement that standing. In fact, it might even be their best release yet.
Much like their previous albums, "Anthems Of Rebellion" often has the feel of a guitar clinic, which makes sense given the fact that the band is led by ex-Carcass axe-man Michael Ammott and his brother Christopher (who's not too shabby himself). Along with Meshuggah's Fredrik Thordendal and Marten Hagstrom, these guys stand right at the top of the modern metal guitar-duo heap. Together, the two tear through a non-stop succession of intricate harmonies, thunderous riffs, and explosive solos. The rest of the band is nothing to sneeze at either. The rhythm section of bassist Sharlee D'Angelo and drummer Daniel Erlandsson often struggle to make themselves heard behind the stunning guitar onslaught, but they deliver all the surgical precision necessary to anchor music this aggressive. Fronting it all is Angela Gossow (she's a woman), whose throat-ripping vocals are among the most insane you'll hear from either gender. It's just not extreme metal without some anger and vitriol, and Angela brings plenty of it.
Musically, the album adheres mainly to the Iron Maiden-derived, Gothenburg-style melodic death/thrash sound that Mike has been renowned for since his days with Carcass. Steamrolling, death-metal heaviness is still present, but extreme metal has rarely been so catchy. The band's sound has become more streamlined than ever, resulting in an album that includes some of the most wildly infectious metal songwriting to grace the genre since In Flames's heyday. On track after track, Mike and Christopher lay down thick, heavy grooves that should prove once and for all that heaviness, musicianship, and melody can peacefully coexist. "Dead Eyes See No Future" and the stunning "Instinct" feature some of the most insane guitar acrobatics of the past decade, accompanied by Angela's venomous rasp and disaffected lyrics. "Despicable Heroes" is a roaring thrash-metal tune sure to please avid Haunted lovers like myself. "We Will Rise" throws somewhat of a curveball by starting out subdued and minimal (by Arch Enemy standards, anyway) before turning on the heaviness in the chorus.
Fortunately, Arch Enemy also manage to avoid the production problems that have plagued some of this year's big-name metal releases, from Nevermore's "Enemies Of Reality" to (to a much lesser extent) the Haunted's "One Kill Wonder." Some metal albums probably should have raw production, but an album that relies on technical perfections as much as "Anthems" definitely isn't one of them. Fortunately, the mix here is crystal-clear, allowing the listener to follow everything that's going on without having to pick through a wall of sound. All in all, this is another fine album from a great band, and sure to make my prestigious "Best of 2003" list.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2019
Great Album, but not the edition it says i nthe description
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2019
This was the first Arch Enemy album I ever heard and I Loved it. So, when I saw that it says here that this is a 2 disc edition, I bougth it. Because of it I decided to pay the $20.99. But now thay I have it in my hands, is the single disc album. Now I see it expensive. It's the first time this ever happens to me. Always a first time right. I don't return it because it will cost me 3 times the cost of the CD.
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2019
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Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2003
