As reported last week, there had been debate over whether former singer-turned-manager Angela Gossow would be up for taking the mic again, which she roundly rejected. Gossow responded to the American’s enlistment on Sunday morning via her Instagram, admitting that “I thought hard about rejoining the band” after recently departed singer Alissa White-Gluz’s resignation, and the band “received many applications from great vocalists all over the world”, but settled on Hart, who was “exceeding my skills”. Gossow also stated her admiration for White-Gluz, declaring “all the best to Alissa! She is gonna kill it with her solo album… and will leave her mark in the world of metal for sure”.

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Hart, who also played rhythm guitar in her previous band, has been a name in the global metal scene since 2015, when her band, Once Human, released their debut album, ‘The Life I Remember’, proceeding to release two more since then. The last, 2022’s ‘Scar Weaver’, received strong reviews and featured a guest vocal from Machine Head’s Robb Flynn. The band’s sound, a cross between the melodeath of Hart’s new band, and a distinctly ‘90s groove metal feel, was somewhat a product of the contributions of guitarist Logan Mader, who himself had been in Machine Head. Hart’s experience as a touring vocalist for established power metal band Kamelot has also helped prepare her for this new gig. In an odd twist of fate, White-Gluz has also done guest work with the ‘90s medievalists.

Guitarist and clear band leader Michael Amott said of Hart’s hiring that “working with her was an exceptional experience – her remarkable voice, coupled with her dedication and professionalism, brings a rare level of excellence.”

The announcement came with the unexpected release of a new single, entitled ‘To The Last Breath’.  Sonically, it’s classic Arch Enemy, with copious double bass, a big chorus, and a mean, fast riff, giving Hart a chance to show off her vocals to fans for the first time. The pyro-filled music video features the band alongside images of hell and a low-lit eighteenth century ball with Hart commanding the central space, channelling the huge frontwoman energy which Arch Enemy have pioneered through their use of creative female lead vocalists.

The band have also announced tour dates with Hart. The ‘Back To The Root Of All Evil’ tour, announced at the weekend, will be rolling through Europe and culminating in the 11 August gig at Manchester’s Rebellion venue. However, since that announcement they have also disclosed another smaller tour of China and Japan throughout March and April. Hart claimed they would be “small” and “very intense” shows, clearly showing a renewed drive in the Arch Enemy camp.

 

 

 

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The Swedish melodic death metal giants, who celebrated their thirtieth anniversary last year, parted company their singer, who intends to focus on her solo career.

In the last few weeks, rumours have circulated that they plan to reunite with Gossow, who left in 2014 and now manages the band. She is credited as a trailblazer for women in extreme metal and enjoys immense popularity with their rabid fan base. Speaking of the situation before Gossow’s entrance, guitarist Michael Amott said that “back then, there was not one metal band who had a girl singer”. While Girlschool or Vixen may have disagreed, it is true that extreme metal c.2000 had nowhere near the same number of leading women as today, a change which can largely be attributed to Gossow’s work.

Gossow first joined Arch Enemy in 2000, following the departure of John Liiva, who was fired for his lack of dynamism. Gossow took them to new heights on albums such as 2005’s Doomsday Machine, which broke them out of the underground and expanded the boundaries of melodeath. Her departure in 2014 was friendly and a product of her wanting to focus more on her family.

White-Gluz, her replacement, had made her name in Canadian prog-adjacent metalcore act The Agonist, releasing three full length albums and one EP with them. Her time in the band was marked by commercial success and a reaffirmation of Arch Enemy as an arena-filling headline act. On the day of her resignation, she announced a solo single, ‘The Room Where She Died’.

Gossow this week came out and rejected any claim that she was rejoining the band, despite rising anticipation from fans. “It’s not ME”, she exclaimed online, “but thank you for all the love! I am really excited to be involved in this new chapter as the manager. This is gonna CRUSH!” The band are yet to confirm a replacement.

Arch Enemy grew like a rose-cutting out of an equally, if not more, brutal band, Carcass, whose 1993 album Heartwork is widely credited for birthing melodic death metal as a genre, before other Swedish bands like At The Gates took up the flame on subsequent albums like 1995’s riff-tastic Slaughter of the Soul. Leaving Carcass prior to 1996’s Swansong, guitarist Michael Amott wanted to start where Heartwork left off, founding Arch Enemy in 1995 with other active members of the Swedish death metal scene. Amott did not rejoin Carcass for their 2007 reunion tour or either of the two subsequent albums.

Members have come and gone, but Amott’s persistence and a string of significant vocalists have helped establish the band as a leading artist in the top brass of global extreme metal acts and one of the biggest bands to come out of melodeath.

]]> https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/angela-gossow-rejects-arch-enemy-reunion-rumours/feed/ 0 https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/arch-enemy-set-to-release-new-single-handshake-with-hell-next-week-from-upcoming-album-deceivers/ https://www.mxdwn.co.uk/news/arch-enemy-set-to-release-new-single-handshake-with-hell-next-week-from-upcoming-album-deceivers/#comments Sat, 29 Jan 2022 19:58:39 +0000 http://www.mxdwn.co.uk/?p=52585 Swedish melodic death metal group Arch Enemy is all set for a new single release next week, which shall be titled “Handshake With Hell“. Due out next February 4^th, it will be the third release from the outfit’s upcoming new album, Deceivers. The single follows on from October’s “Deceiver Deceiver“, as well as “House of Mirrors“ from last December, and will become the latest taste of what’s to come from their eleventh studio album.

For those of you more concerned with the actual album itself, you might have to wait a bit longer. Deceivers is set for release on 29^th July via Century Media Records. On the bright side however,  it’s promised to be a good one! The band’s press release predicts “A collection of 11 tracks that are ruthlessly catchy and mercilessly violent”, standing “toe-to-toe with the highlights of the band’s storied catalogue.“

Founding member and guitarist Michael Amott had this to say about the making of the album: “Once again we shut out the outside world and went deep into the artistic zone. I believe we pulled out some really interesting musical and lyrical themes this time, a few things might even raise an eyebrow or two – while retaining all the signature elements of the band. In the end, it’s Arch Enemy at full speed and power!“

And that’s not all for the band who are seemingly back in full force, both in terms of recording and touring duties. They’re obviously keen to keep themselves busy this year since they’ll be embarking on both a North American and European tour, also appearing in some summer festivals for good measure. Performing with fellow bands such as Napalm Death, Behemoth and Amott’s ex-outfit Carcass, their diary is stock-full of dates keeping them going throughout April to November. So if you’re a fan, now’s your chance!

Amott had this to say about the touring side of things: “Despite the obvious uncertainties everyone is currently facing in the world, we have got quite a few concerts booked for this year! We’re delighted to be returning to the live stage in North America this spring and hitting select European festivals in the summer, as well as a huge European tour at the end of 2022. It’s time, let’s do this!“

If you fancy getting yourself some tickets then you can see about that here. Pre-ordering their new album will become an option on February 4^th, and you can pre-save the record here. And Deceivers’ tracklist can be seen below, along with some of the band’s tour dates in the UK.

1. Handshake With Hell
2. Deceiver, Deceiver
3. In The Eye Of The Storm
4. The Watcher
5. Poisoned Arrow
6. Sunset Over The Empire
7. House Of Mirrors
8. Spreading Black Wings
9. Mourning Star
10. One Last Time
11. Exiled From Earth

UK Tour Dates

27/09/2022 – Olympia Theatre – Dublin
29/09/2022 – O2 Academy – Glasgow
30/09/2022 – O2 Apollo – Manchester
01/10/2022 – O2 Academy – Birmingham
02/10/2022 – O2 Academy Brixton – London

“Nobody’s more disappointed than us about this, that’s for damn sure,” says Arch Enemy guitarist Michael Amott. ​He continues: “But it is what it is, and we’re already looking forward to getting back to it in 2022! Stay healthy, stay metal!”.

In the announcement, Behemoth shared the news that they are working on new music. The band has been silent since 2020’s “A Forest” EP. Which saw the band team up with Niklas Kvarforth on their cover of The Cure’s hit single “A Forest”. Arch Enemy is also set to release new music, after 2019’s “Covered In Blood”. It is safe t0 say the bands will be unleashing an incredible performance of new and old music during the new dates.

‘The European Siege’ tour is now postponed until 2022.

Legions, it is what it is – we go again for 2022! Behemoth are coming with new music and new stage shenanigans…a spectacle worth waiting for. We’ll see you there!

All tickets will remain valid! pic.twitter.com/gV3T6xqxGw

— Behemoth (@BehemothBand) August 20, 2021

You can buy your tickets to the tour here.

27/09/22-  Dublin
29/09- Glasgow
30/09- Manchester

01/10- Birmingham
02/10- London
04/10- Paris
05/10- Toulouse
07/10-  Lisbon
08/10- Madrid
09/10- Barcelona
11/10- Lyon
12/10- Milano
14/10- Berlin
15/10- Prague
16/10- Budapest
18/10- Vienna
19/10- Katowice
21/10- Ludwigsburg
22/10- Den Bosch
23/10- Brussels
25/10- Zurich
26/10- Frankfurt
28/10- Munich
29/10- Düsseldorf
30/10- Hamburg
31/10- Gothenburg

02/11-  Helsinki
04/11- Stockholm
05/11- Copenhagen
06/11- Oslo