Year: 2022
Total Time: 45:09
Label: Century Media
ARCH ENEMY returned after almost 5 years of record absence since 2017’s “Will To Power”, but with a very active presence on the concert side, having almost 200 live appearances around the world, as a headliner or as a support/guest alongside huge names in the game. The size of this band is undisputed as it has fans in every corner of the globe.
Firstly, I will venture to say that I was a bit “dissapointed” with Gossow’s withdrawal, nevertheless Alissa has proven to be a worthy replacement and has now established herself and “bonded” with the rest of the members, since “Deceivers” is the band’s third record with Alissa on vocals and eleventh overall for ARCH ENEMY.
Now, “Deceivers” is an album for all tastes as it contains compositions with many elements, but always keeping high the “banner” of Melodic Death Metal.
The album starts with “Handshake With Hell” which throughout it makes passages from almost all spectrums of metal in general with clear but also brutal vocals as well as changes from fast to slow or very slow tempo. “Deceiver Deceiver” and “In The Eye of The Storm” are two ARCH ENEMY classics which remind me a bit of “Anthems of Rebellion”. We continue with ‘The Watcher’ and oh my god… what a song… What to say about this song… Epic, concert like, the riffs, mosh pit, 360 with your hair ( I don’t have…). I can’t form a complete sentence, as you can see, listening to this track. Only words and feelings overwhelm me. Its end is the beginning of “Poisoned Arrow” which enters slowly and melodically with electric and classical guitar making it sound like an anthem. Going firther to “Sunset Over The Empire” which giver a more “thrash” feeling and 2 solos, the first by Amott and the second by Loomis where he has put his personal signature in this. You’ll understand when you hear it.
“House of Mirrors” starts with an 80’s feel and a slightly Maiden-ish guitar melody. But it continues down a completely different path, leading the listener into the insanity of the human mind. “Spreading Black Wings” a track about the fallen angel has a heavier, slower tempo as well as “haunting” melodies as Alissa’s love for Black Metal is known. I should mention that this song is dedicated to the memory of Lars-Göran Petrov (Entombed, Morbid, Nihilist) who lost his battle with cancer on March 7, 2021.
A short peace of mind with the instrumental “Mourning Star” before moving into ‘One Last Time”, another anthem, with soul-inducing verses and solos that take the song even higher by harmonizing perfectly with the chorus. The album closes with “Exiled From Earth” also a classic ARCH ENEMY song, dark and melodic.
To recap, we have a very good job from the Swedes who show us that they are making progress with each release. Adding or removing elements and always giving the listener the best possible result. “Deceivers” isn’t a masterpiece, but it isn’t bad either. It’s a pretty good record with a very nice structure, dark, melodic but raw at the same time. It is an ARCH ENEMY signature record from the beginning to the end. No matter how many times you listen to it, you will always find something new.
If I could express a complaint to the band it would be to use Jeff Loomis a bit more. Ok Chris left for his reasons. But you have one of the most important guitarists of modern progressive metal. Give him some creative freedom…
Rating: 8/10
Editor: Marios Tsampazoglou
Related Link: ARCH ENEMY – Official Page
