Arch Enemy Blood Dynasty

Arch Enemy was formed in 1995 by guitarist Michael Amott. The band quickly gained recognition for their blend of aggressive riffs, melodic solos, and intense vocals. Over the years, they have undergone several lineup changes, with notable members including vocalists Johan Liiva, Angela Gossow, and current frontwoman, Alissa White-Gluz. The band's discography is marked by critically acclaimed albums such as Wages of Sin, Anthems of Rebellion, Doomsday Machine and War Eternal, solidifying their place in the metal pantheon. Arch Enemy have a tenure spanning 30 years and with three separate vocalists during that time, it's only natural for fans to gravitate towards a particular era of the band as a preference. 

Michael Amott comments:

"This is our 12th studio album, and the rule of metal is that you’ve got to keep trying to say the same thing, but in slightly different ways! There’s a degree of familiarity in our sound, which I don’t see as a problem because we’re playing the music we love. But obviously we’ve got to throw a couple of curveballs in there each time, a few new interesting things to spice it up a little bit. How do you get people talking about your record when it’s the 12th one, you know?”

Album opener “Dream Stealer” follows the same Arch Enemy formula of dramatic orchestration, furious riffs, catchy choruses and devastating roars, but following the reliable formula doesn't make the track any less invigorating. “Dream Stealer” serves as a solid introduction and judging by the reactions of crowds worldwide, it is already a live performance favourite. Throughout Alissa White-Gluz's tenure as lead vocalist, the band have slowly started to introduce clean vocals to contrast the guttural growls and screams. “Illuminate The Path” is one such example where Alissa teams her trademark screams and roars with her powerful cleans; a clear deviation from earlier Arch Enemy material but it creates a striking and fresh contrast. “March of the Miscreants” and the title track “Blood Dynasty” emit whispers of Angela Gossow era Arch Enemy with triumphant yet brutal atmosphere and harsh melodies combined with screaming guitars and demonically guttural screams.

Arch Enemy have always had a distinctive sound, a particular approach to melodic death metal which has been present throughout their entire career, evolving with time and technology but still very much maintaining their roots. But on occasion, a surprise deviation appears and in this case “Vivre Libre” is probably the biggest curveball in the band's history. A cover of the French band Blaspheme's ballad from the 80s interjects an emotive yet powerful reprieve from the cacophony of drums and screams. Sung entirely in French, the band utilises Alissa's clean vocal ability on a backdrop of fiery guitars but the riotous nature of Arch Enemy returns in the closing chapters of the album, particularly with the furiously paced “Liars & Thieves.”

Bottom Line: Blood Dynasty doesn't deviate from the Arch Enemy path all that much, however, at the same time there's still something captivating about it. On the odd occasion that it does wander from familiar territory, it grabs your attention. It's safe to say that this may be a sign of the band dipping their toe into much more ambitious realms in the future. Considering this is Arch Enemy's 12th studio album, it is still a worthy addition to their discography and a solid marker for their 30th anniversary.