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› Arch Enemy – Rise Of The Tyrant
Century Media Records – 24/9/2007
And so rounds up a busy HeadBanging month for myself. I bought this album just before the deadline and felt that it deserved to get in with the best in our anniversary issue. I actually thought I wouldn’t have enough time to listen to it to give it a fair trial, but after being in three traffic jams in as many days (cheers M6 roadworks and football traffic) I was proven wrong!
Arch Enemy played a couple of songs from the new album at Bloodstock Open Air, which I thought were blinding, as did many of the punters. Certainly the first 4 or so songs combine great riffs, Angela Gossow’s trademark roars with some great almost power metal interludes and solos. It sounds like a really combative force, and the great step forward into an album worthy of the musicians’ individual talents.
However, later on in the album, as is the case many times with Arch Enemy, the quality goes downhill and they revert to the simpler methods of in different places relying on generic-sounding Gothenburg death metal or NWOAHM riffs to complete their obligatory 11 songs. If Arch Enemy did a double album of greatest hits, it would be amazing, as are their live shows, with a combination of their all their great songs in one place. However, on each album there is a fair amount of poor material that really shouldn’t be featured, resulting in probably one of the most frustrating bands ever. The quality and talent is obviously there and plain for all to see, but they must pick up on the consistency. For all fans of the band, please try harder next time!
7.5/10
Harry
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