The Root of All Evil

The Root of All Evil is a reconstruction-type work on which ARCH ENEMY revived early songs from the Johan Liiva period with Angela Gossow’s vocals and present-day playing and production. Rather than merely retracing old material, by re-illuminating it with the voice, sonic pressure and arrangement sense of the recording moment, it lets you see how far the band had changed. More than differences of tempo or key, the current band shows in how the harmonies are layered, the distance of the guitars and the sinking of the rhythm. For listeners who know the early trilogy, there is the pleasure of noticing not only nostalgia but which parts are re-emphasized. Gossow’s fierce growl and refined modern production give new force and outline to the once-rough originals. Holding a different kind of interest from the surprise of a new album, it is an intriguing record for reading how ARCH ENEMY organizes its own history and connects its early legacy to the present. As an attempt to bridge past and present, it also serves as an entry point for looking back on a career milestone.