War Eternal

War Eternal is the first album with a new vocalist, on which ARCH ENEMY restarted by binding sharp melodic-death riffs to an overwhelming roar. In place of Angela Gossow, who had led the band for years, Alissa White-Gluz — active in Canada’s The Agonist — joined, and her vocals, combining menace and expressiveness, brought the band fresh power. The twin guitars cut in aggressively while drawing big melodies here and there, giving the songs a heroic elation. From the valor of the title track “War Eternal” and the strong anthem quality of “You Will Know My Name” to the aggression of “As the Pages Burn” and “Never Forgive, Never Forget,” the memorable strength of the choruses and lead phrases stands out, not just momentum. New guitarists including Jeff Loomis, who joined at this time, add a further layer of depth to the playing. Balancing melodic-death ferocity with drama at a high level, it turns a change of vocalist into a splendid leap, announcing a new chapter for the band.