Procrastination. Fueled by your fears of the consequences your actions could have. At least, that’s one of the definitions for this sometimes persistent lack of activity. And what does that have to do with the price of butter on a metal record? Well, read on – we’re getting there. Promised.
The RMR crew started on Arch Enemy with War Eternal. The debut album with Alissa White-Gluz after Angela Gossow left for bigger and better things. This record generated a mighty metal heap of enthusiasm over here. True oomph with a bobcat delivery of a new vocalist with an affinity for aggressive growls. Backed up by cool moving pictures that follow us around to this day. Purists – of course – already bemoaned the past where everything was better. But what else is new, right?
Will to Power of 2017 left us much less – enthused. The band did inject new elements, like the vocalist sprouting clear voice vocals. The production was powerful enough with a few cool moments, but it left us colder than it probably should have.
Now, once Deceivers hit the shelves in the summer of ’22, the review folks over here just let it sit in the review pipe – and it stayed there ever since. There was a ton of excellent material screaming for review during that year and – frankly – there wasn’t space for yet another hopefully not too mediocre mainstream piece. Thus, procrastination ensued and this ain’t good, we admit.
The album charted to very mixed results mainly in Europe but failed to do so in the US. Interestingly, the piece hit number 1 in Switzerland, the UK1, Finland, but not in Sweden for some reason. The rest is all over the place.
Deceivers pretty much continues where Will to Power left off, down to the opening riff. Even if the AC/DC-ish beginnings of this new record startled us some. There may be a tad more power and refinement on this here record but – by and large – we got ourselves a smooth transition. Now, don’t get me wrong, they’re all in fine form. White-Gluz‘s vocals in clear voice and in the growls department smoothly move around the soundscape. Jeff Loomis – as usual – kills it with some stellar riffs and shredded solos to dream for.
And again, Deceivers here is a record of moments. The comforting full-speed ahead ferocity in Handshake With Hell, for instance. Including a pretty smooth performance in clear voice with some suave Kamelot moments included. And same as on Will to Power, White-Gluz‘s clears eerily reminded me of one Lzzy Hale. House of Mirrors will greet you with a genuine metal scream, whereas Sunset Over the Empire‘s stomp seems to step straight out of Khaos Legions. But we did appreciate the powerful intro from Sharlee d’Angelo‘s bass machine. So, yet again, Arch Enemy got ourselves a record full of pretty snazzy moments of excellence.
But the RMR crew also found some cheap grabs on Deceivers. Like the ever-questionable ‘hey’ screams on Spreading Black Wings that solely exist to prepare the live crowd. Also, Arch Enemy here err a tad too close to the sugary props, folks like Amaranthe like to use. And at times, the record doesn’t quite know if Power Metal should be better suited for whatever its goal is. All these ideas work toward this creative freedom thing, of course. But by this token, the band will alienate the already scarred old fans even more. It will – however – increase the fanbase straight from the mainstream at the same time. Metal o’ the Light in a melodeath disguise, full of blue hair, naked mid-riffs, and rough-hewn ferocity.
So, consequently, this piece won’t gain the band the approval of the die-hard bestial metalheads. But it will – for sure – sell them a megaton of records. And let’s face it: Deceivers is a damned good album, full of astonishing high-end musical prowess, with energy levels that other bands are still searching for. And whilst the band didn’t take their craft to the next level, the folks over at the RMR office suite enjoyed the sheer power and unbridled metal fun this record brings to the table for a few spins.
There you go, procrastination’s over.
Ed’s note: Fancy more blasts from the past? We got you covered.
Record Rating: 6/10 | Label: Century Media | Web: Official Band Site
Release Date: 12 August 2022
- UK Rock & Metal Albums.-↩