It’s been three years since Arch Enemy released their last album, “Deceivers,” but they are back in 2025 with their storming new album “Blood Dynasty” and kicking off with the ferocious ‘Dream Stealer’, this album shows they are still the formidable force they always were.
With line-up and vocalist changes throughout the thirty years these guys have been around, the band now seem comfortable with their current personnel, consisting of the magnificent voice of Alissa White-Gluz, who joined the band in 2014, guitarist and founding member Michael Amott, drummer Daniel Erlandsson, bassist Sharlee D’Angelo and second guitarist Joey Concepcion, who was added in 2023, and Blood Dynasty is their twelfth studio album.
With a release date of 28th March 2025, recorded in Sweden and produced by Jens Bogren, this album shows the band are still growing in strength and power.
With powerful riffs that crunch their way through each song, and double kick drumming that makes me tired just listening to it, there is an aggression to this album that is relentless from start to finish.
The upbeat tempo of each song is matched by its energy, every member of the band gelling together and creating a powerhouse of a sound. The guitar solos are just as heavy, with intricate playing, showing that this is a band that is not just about making some noise. These are genuine, talented musicians that really are on top of their game, and I can see them only getting better with future releases.
Musically, this is an album that really does throw you headlong into a whirlwind of melodic death metal, and Alissa’s vocals only add to the sonic onslaught that the listener is subjected to. Her legendary death metal growls are there in all their fabulous glory but listen out for track two ‘Illuminate The Path’ which also incorporates some clean singing from her during the chorus, which is unusual for the band as their previous inclusion of Alissa’s cleaning vocals has been a bridge section or something similar. Hearing her sing in such an unfamiliar style shows her versatility to comfortably perform multiple vocals styles, and that she does it fantastically.
Alissa’s vocal talents are once again showcased on their version of the 80’s French hard rock ballad, ‘Vivre Libre’, and accompanied by some soaring guitar solos, this shows another side to the band. Melodic and harmonious, this is a lull in the intensity of the rest of the album, but a lull that shows talent, musicianship, and flair, before launching the listener back into the mix once more.
This is Arch Enemy at their very best and I, for one, hope we do not have to wait another three years for their next offering. Go get this album, turn it up to eleven and be transported into a frenzy of melodic death metal for nearly forty-three minutes.
But don’t forget to warm your neck up first because once you start headbanging to this, you really won’t be able to stop!
Rating: 9/10
Tracklisting:
1. Dream Stealer
2. Illuminate The Path
3. March Of the Miscreants
4. A Million Suns
5. Don’t Look Down
6. Presage
7. Blood Dynasty
8. Paper Tiger
9. Vivre Libre (Blaspheme cover)
10. The Pendulum
11. Liars & Thieves
Arch Enemy are:
Alissa White-Gluz – vocals
Michael Amott – guitars
Daniel Erlandsson – drums
Sharlee D’Angelo – bass
Joey Concepcion – guitars
Arch Enemy Online:
https://www.facebook.com/archenemyofficial
https://www.instagram.com/archenemyofficial/#
