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ARCH ENEMY
1996 - Black Earth.
1998 - Stigmata.
1999 - Burning Bridges.
more ARCH ENEMY.
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December 12, 1996 - 2021: 25 years of: Black Earth.

The birth of extreme Eurometal.

After the melodic legacy of SAVATAGE's Oliva brothers, we now get extrem-er with ARCH ENEMY's Amott brothers. Ex-CARCASS shredder Mike, brings in his little 19 year-old brother Christopher into the heavymetal-circle. The result is an in flamed posh mix of NWOBHM and old-school deathmetal, an equation that would forever be now known as the: Gothenburg-sound.

The opening-track, the obnoxious "Bury Me An Angel" lays the cards right up. Punchy, relentless and cleverly intertwined by classic PRIEST guitar-unisons. "Dark Insanity" instantly grasp for the throat, while "Idolatress" eliminates the weak. Welcome to the new school.

The 1:09sec classical-guitar interlude with lead of "Time Capsule" displays some melodic openness, while the closing monster "Fields Of Desolation" has with time, become one of the band's signature-trick.

Produced by to-be scene-shaper Fredrik Nordström, the ENEMYs rapidly attained cult-status in Sweden's second blooming metal-wave, mainly due to Mike's illustrious CARNAGE, CARCASS and SPIRITUAL BEGGARS resume. This fresh new unit also features ex-CARNAGE screamer Johan Liiva behind the mic. This is the evolution of ENTOMBED's death-n-roll and continuation of CARCASS's rot-n-roll legacy.

In 1996's dark underground tranquility, ARCH ENEMY were the new game in this new brand of melodic-deathmetal and this new game shall step-up to worldwide-standards with Century Media Records 1998's bullet-proof Stigmata CD.

*
Black Earth = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPgSV5N7Bzw&list=PLgQXyYr_WFnJdTrhAXzDo4DkAYLpBIrIm
Live in Holland in 1997
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ra8uKsrO52o
Michael Amott: Wikipedia, fact or fiction ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU89j76u7fA

March 21, 1998 - 2023: 25 years of: Stigmata.

The Second Wave is in full swing.

Sweden's 1991-92 era was dead and by now gone into melo-death territory. Yet one band kept the brutal element alive, while still, saluting the NWOBHM-feel to a tee. After 1996's dark-death Black Earth CD assault, ARCH ENEMY was now signed to fledging label Century Media Records and unknowingly, the world was ready for the perfect antidote for the hazy late 90s.

The killing begins with the inner-evil "Beast Of Man", a sick and rocking cut that pushes the Euro-deathmetal envelope into the underground-mainstream. Some unison-melodies melts away on the instrumetal-magic of "Stigmata", a 2:12sec Malmsteen-esque exhibition, while the pure riff-o-rama of "Sinister Mephisto" and "Dark Of The Sun" crushes the competition.

Another intermission, this time the eerie keyboards of "Vox Stellarum" ships us deep into the Milky Way, a one off, performed by producer Fredrik Nordström. Defending the faith with more sick metal, with soiled "Black Earth" and the massive melancholic closer "Bridge Of Destiny".

Less dirt, more melodies ...perfect mix !

In this morphing scene of the late 90s, Scandinavia was the scene of a real rock hard battleground:
- on one end, Norway's Belzebuth bastards were desecrating all that is Holy
- and on the other end, Sweden's fertile melodic-metal hotbed was the new Florida.

ARCH ENEMY's true carnage will evolve and incorporate the elusive rock / metal format fusion. Next step would be 1999's trend-steering necroticism Burning Bridges CD.

*
Stigmata = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK_Kd7aF6hg&list=OLAK5uy_kHfpL0zWfO4bvhIcKXJWD2MyujX0AR7MM

May 21, 1999 - 2024: 25 years of: Burning Bridges.

Sweden is descanting the insalubrious.

After the much hyped 1998 picture perfect Stigmata CD, the enemies would now swallow the scene. Euro-deathmetal rides deeper into the melodic route. From the undergrounds of Halmstad to the global stages, ARCH ENEMY are the head-chiefs of death-rockabillia.

Pristine power rocks out loud, as "The Immortal" arises from the black Earth. Fully in command, this unique unit is far from being "Dead Inside" as they fly high on shiny "Silverwing". Screaming for vengeance and planting the "Seed Of Hate", our metallians bursts-out some of the finest metal of the era.

Top stamina and exquisite lead-guitar work supported by fret-burning riffing, these Scandinavian "Pilgrim" are gripping deep with their razor-sharp "Angelclaw". The CD-closer, the epic title-track for "Burning Bridges" is a melancholic doommetal mammoth.

What CARCASS achieved in 1993, ARCH ENEMY re-animates it in 1999.

Powermetal with a deathmetal foundation, this lethal mix is of the addictive kind. Filling the gap between classic NWOBHM and modern Gothenburg-tone, with this third alchemy ...ARCH ENEMY are now at the Pole Position of extreme metal. And for extra muscle, please welcome aboard on bass: MERCYFUL FATE's Sharlee D'Angelo.

Sadly, albeit being the metal-zenith, this would also be the end of an era, as singer Johan Liiva would leave the fold after the tour. The tyrants shall rise again, with new front-woman Angela Gossow and attack with a new formula: 2001's Wages Of Sin CD.

*
The Immortal = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkuL8Nl8E1c
Burning Bridges = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwyvew8iIIo&list=OLAK5uy_lbh7JZa3Egn4b1NfoNyKdI2GhdGwvMttE
Interview in Japan in 1999
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17k6lLz1jcY
Burning Japan Live = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEH331EYbjs&list=PLCuhI9z2CUwPrXK6gYKT-tiYGl0u30-2h
Live in Chile in 1999
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkCI5LzpZ80

more ARCH ENEMY:

Frères métalliques
&

CARCASS
&

SPIRITUAL BEGGARS