Arch Enemy’s latest album, “War Eternal,” has been released. This is the first album with their new lead singer Alissa White-Gluz (formerly with The Agonist) and I’m sure a lot of people have been waiting for this album if only so they could see how she does. My verdict: not bad. She’s definitely not Angela but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Her gutteral growls are not as deep but still hit you and, if ever needed (very unlikely since this is Arch Enemy), she has a good clean vocal game to work with.
“War Eternal” is the ninth album for the band and first for new member Alissa and not-so-new member Nick Cordle (Cordle has been in the band for two years after Michael Amott’s brother Christopher moved to America). In ways I actually like it more than earlier albums; on others I have only really liked one or two songs but they have been awesome songs. This one has more but there isn’t a standout song that you can tell is the album’s “one.” The strongest are definitely title track “War Eternal” and “Avalanche” but “Time is Black” and the single “As the Pages Burn” and “You Will Know My Name” are good songs too.
I’ll be waiting for the next time they come in town. I really want to see how Alissa handles staple Arch Enemy songs like “Revolution Begins” and “We Will Rise.” “Under Black Flags We March” is another one I have to hear.
Quick picks:
War Eternal
Avalanche
Time is Black
1. “Tempore Nihil Sanat (Prelude in F minor)”
2. “Never Forgive, Never Forget”
3. “War Eternal”
4. “As the Pages Burn”
5. “No More Regrets”
6. “You Will Know My Name”
7. “Graveyard of Dreams” (instrumental)
8. “Stolen Life”
9. “Time Is Black”
10. “On and On”
11. “Avalanche”
12. “Down to Nothing”
13. “Not Long for This World” (instrumental)