By founding of Arch Enemy, Michael Amott (for those who don’t know it yet, he was previously a guitarist of Carnage and Carcass) did more or less unconsciously a really smart move. By mixing of different metal genres and brilliant musicianship of Michael and his bandmates, they together came into a point that is out of reach for many others. By releasing of five albums, Arch Enemy have reached their own style and very high level out of ordinary. Yes, “Anthems of Rebellion” is already the 5th album under that name, so also expectations are higher this time. Does it work in that point? Definitely it does and Amott bros (remember that Christopher Amott is a second guitarist in the band) are one of the most perfect guitar duets on the metal scene. Thrashy riffs blent with melodic solos make that “Anthems...” is the album that is attractive for fans of all metal genres. Just listen to “We Will Rise” which is a brilliant combination of catchiness, aggressiveness and... what I have lost in that picture? A voice of a female vocalist of Angela Gossow who replaced a previous frontman Johan Liiva (now in a line-up of Hearse). Sometimes it works very well, because her vocal skills can bring you a kind of shocking experience and leave you with no breath in your mouth, but sometimes it lacks those tunes which are available for the male vocalists only (Nature has its limits...) and her voice sounds too monotonously. Obviously I judge her work as another strong point of Arch Enemy, but just listen to guitars’ work and then compare it with vocal skills. If I would graduate the guitars on “Anthems...” as 10 out of 10, Angela Gossow deserves on 3 numbers less. All in all, it gives a grade like 8 and a half. To add more details on “Anthems...” I should mention about great bass and drums lines, also about great keyboards in a background (performed by Per Wiberg, a guy who plays with Michael Amott in Spiritual Beggars) and just beautiful instrumental tracks (“Marching On a Dead End Road” and “Anthem”). So what you will say if I give to the new album of Arch Enemy strong 9 points?

Wojciech Szymanski

TRACKLIST:
01. Tear Down The Walls (Intro)
02. Silent Wars
03. We Will Rise
04. Dead Eyes See No Future
05. Instinct
06. Leader Of The Rats
07. Exist to Exit
08. Marching On A Dead End Road (Instr.)
09. Despicable Heroes
10. End of the Line
11. Dehumanization
12. Anthem (Instr.)
13. Saints and Sinners

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