Arch Enemy / A Spellbinding Hammersmith Night Of Death Metal

No Eventim Apollo introductions are required for Death Metal Goliath Arch Enemy, who are preceded by a spellbinding intro aimed at plunging their spectators into a wonderful world of mesmeric darkness. Greeted by a ravishing Spandex-laden Alissa White-Gluz, looking as fierce and as beautiful as ever in her crisp white Gigerian futuristic Aphrodite body suit, the band bring a more aggressive and hellish flavour to the stage.

Arch Enemy

Eventim Apollo – 6 October 2024

Words: Dany Jones

Photography: Steve Ritchie

Opening with the explosive Deceiver, Deceiver, an extract from their latest 2022 self-titled masterpiece, the crowd’s response is simply electric. Gluz’s commanding stage presence is on full display, with her guttural roars as ferocious as ever, while heavily downtuned meaty riffs intertwine over the barrage provided by the D’Angelo / Erlandsson dynamic duo.

The momentum is kept throughout in the unleashing of the heavy loads that follow, climaxing into a My Apocalypse that sees the roof almost lift off.

As Arch Enemy gear up to release a new album, the crowd are treated to a few surprise previews. Alongside the debut of their latest release Dream Stealer, the band also unleash the unedited Liars & Thieves, both of which packed a serious punch and showcased their ability to further evolve into newfound relevance. 

These new tracks highlighted the band’s ongoing pursuit of balancing melodic tones with raw aggression, a combination that founding member and guitarist Michael Amott has described as the core of Arch Enemy. 

In an earlier interview with MetalTalk view here Amott explains at length how the very essence of this band is marked by the juxtaposition of brutality and the melodic element of the guitar motifs that make a sheer beautiful symphony.

To further elaborate, Dream Stealer sees Alissa venture into the realms of a more versatile vocal, by adding sections of clean tones, a skill she has long mastered on other platforms. 

The signature twin guitar solos are delivered with impeccable synchronicity and soaring melodic flair, a complexity that fans have come to expect from the band’s material, while the rhythm section drives the track forward with crushing heaviness.

We are back in time and as As The Pages Burn kicks in, an inevitable wave of fists lifts high into the air while the singer proudly swings the Arch Enemy flag and rallies the audience into pushing even harder. 

Amott unleashes another one of his blistering solos with flawless precision until Erlandsson leads the band into the song’s breakdown.

The challenge by the singer for the audience to participate with loud chanting gets met by a roar from the crowd, who shout the refrain at the top of their lungs, only for Alissa to quip, “M, show them how it’s done!” prompting another round of Amott’s guitar wizardry.

As the song builds towards culmination, a wall of death gears up for the full throttle. However, in a moment of comedic timing, the pit starts just a tad too early, providing an amusing moment amidst the intensity of it all.

One notable change in the Arch Enemy lineup is the absence of Jeff Loomis, whose technical wizardry and iconic solos are sorely missed.

However, new guitarist Joey Concepcion proved more than capable of holding his own. His razor-sharp riffs and solos fit seamlessly into the band’s sonic landscape, ensuring that their signature tone remains intact.

Pity about the sound lacking in places and depriving his solos of the desired robustness. Also, it is disappointing to remark that the singer would be seen visibly struggling to attune to her in-ears on the crucially demanding vocal interlude of Handshake With Hell.

Nonetheless, the show remains unscathed and at the very first notes of Nemesis, which has become their staple finale, the entire floor erupts into a massive circle pit accompanied by giant balloons bouncing across the crowd.

It was indeed a fittingly chaotic and triumphant ending to an evening of undeniable glory.

The formidable trio of Soilwork, In Flames, and Arch Enemy have delivered an unforgettable night that highlighted the different facets of Melodic Death Metal. 

The Eventim Apollo has proven to be the perfect backdrop for this celebration of Swedish Metal excellence, where a night of blazing riffs, soaring melodies, and ultimate Heavy Metal camaraderie has unfolded before our very eyes. 

This show was not only a celebration of Death Metal history but a statement of intent for what is yet to come from these three excellent outfits, and superlative seems simply an understatement.

Interview / Arch Enemy guitarist and founding member Michael Amott

The post Arch Enemy / A Spellbinding Hammersmith Night Of Death Metal first appeared on MetalTalk - Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews.