Arch Enemy sets a new standard for death metal...
Pablosa | Buenos Aires, Capital Federal Argentina | 08/22/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I've been an Arch Enemy fan since "Black Earth" came out, and I'm going to describe some thoughts after listening to this album: It is great! "Anthems of Rebellion" is Arch Enemy's new masterpiece. They've taken their music to a new level, mixing death metal, with melodies, chaotic riffs and drumming, with some keyboards. Basically, the band sounds much better (sound that I can describe as near as perfect) than "Wages of Sin", but the most improved are the drums: more solid and blasting (Daniel makes an excelent use of the double pedal). Michael Amott received much more colaboration from Chistopher Amott and Daniel Erlandsson in the songwriting. The powerful guitars and the drums create a deadly duet. The arrangements are simply amazing. Sometimes, they combine the same riff, with diverse drum speeds. The songs have different structures, sometimes repeating the chorus, prechorus and sometimes not, with a short solo, or a longer one. You have fast, slow and mid tempo songs, and solos. What I like of this album, is that is nothing more, or less. I mean, everything fits perfectly. There are no loooong and dense solos or choruses (like in "Stigmata"). The keyboards really help the songs, like in "Saints and Sinners", "Exist to Exit", "Instinct" or "I will rise", providing a progressive, and the same time aggressive and apocaliptic touch (not softer!). One thing that bothers me is that the album has 13 songs, but 10 full songs (2 instrumentals and 1 intro). Maybe 11 or 12 full songs could have been great. I think the album needs a couple of fast songs more. Because it has only 2; "Silent Wars" and "Despicable Heroes", that is songs 2 and 9. Between song 2 and 9 there is a six-song gap, with mid tempo songs. And another gap from song 9 to 13. These two gaps need one fast song, to make the album, stronger, faster and more dinamic (more than it already is!), especially at the end (a song like "Ravenous" or "The Immortal"). The album might not be as fast and savage as the Liiva albums, but it shows that the Arch Enemies have become better somgwriters, and are open to experiment new stuff, without leaving their roots...To be honest, I prefer Johan's voice and presence... "Anthems of Rebellion" is "very listeneable", because...I don't know...the song writing made it that way!!! (It has been on my cd-player for a week, since I got it!). Anyway, Arch Enemy is a band that never followed any trend, or refused to grow up, and that's why it is so acclaimed worldwide. They improve on each release, and with albums like this, the metal heart can beat proud and safe... "Anthems of Rebellion" is a winner!"
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1