Arch Enemy return with eleventh album Deceivers.
The album starts with one of the first tasters from nearly 6 months ago, “Handshake With Hell”, and for the most part has vocalist Alissa White Gluz showing off more range with powerful clean vocals. I’m a big fan of this so early highlight track awards right there, and if anything it’s settled me in nicely for the rest of the album. Up next is the fast and furiously paced “Deceiver, Deceiver” which is exactly what I expect with Arch Enemy.
Most recent release “In The Eye Of The Storm” has a wonderfully hypnotic riff running throughout which wouldn’t’ve have been out of place in the 80s, but how it’s constructed with accompanying solos and vocals make it a sure fire future live hit.
There was a moment where I thought “The Watcher” was going to follow suit, it does in the chorus, but everywhere else it’s straight up aggression. Easily the heaviest track overall on the album. In stark contrast this is then followed by a… dare I use the word “ballad” when it pertains to Arch Enemy? “Poisoned Arrow” is certainly the most melodic thing I’ve heard from the band and although I’m in shock I’m very ok with it, and it’s become another favourite.
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I do have one gripe with this album and that’s the amount of tracks already released in video form. Even though “Sunset Over The Empire” is easily the best one for cinematography I think five is too many. Case in point, it’s then followed by “House Of Mirrors”.
Gripe aside, “Spreading Black Wings” is a superb track. It has a wonderfully purposeful build up and a steady pace throughout, all the elements works and really encapsulate the overall aesthetic of the album apart. If I had to recommend a single track from the album it would be this one.
The short instrumental “Morning Star” weaves effortlessly into “One Last Time” with final track “Exiled From Earth” closing the album with some subtle electronic elements that I particularly enjoyed.
Written during 2020, the band experienced logistical issues with Deceivers but have managed to come through it all with confidence coursing through every vein. If their recent Wacken Open Air set is anything to go by then “lethally effective” and “increasingly unstoppable” are incredibly accurate descriptions
Full of heavy flaming riffs.
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Deceivers is out on August 12th
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