Written by joshsteph on 16.09.2017 at 11:45

After the ballad (Reason To Believe) everything goes downhill. The first single was very promising, the second made me think they're on the right track, but when I got the album I could enjoy only the first part of it. The rest seem to be filler after filler. I understand Michael wants to keep the AE sound, but they really should consider letting Jeff step in on some songs with riffs. I'm sure Michael can select or at least inspire himself by some of them. I don't think Jeff is not capable to understand as an artist what the AE sound means or should sound like. When you have such a giant in your band it wouldn't hurt to ask for help if you're out of ideas after 5 - 6 songs.

FWIW, http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/alissa-white-gluzs-solo-debut-will-feature-collaborations-with-kamelot-arch-enemy-members/

Written by joshsteph on 16.09.2017 at 11:45

After the ballad (Reason To Believe) everything goes downhill.

That's also how I feel about the album. Very strong start, and I also like Dreams Of Retribution, but the other 5 songs of the second half are pretty uninspired. It's still a good album, but it could have been much better if it kept the pace.

Given the talent of this lineup and can't even wrap my head around how flat this album sounds. It's maybe not as horrible as some are making it out to be, but there's literally nothing that really stands out here. It's played incredibly safe, songs blend; doubt I'll ever listen through it again after these first few spins. The cleans on that one track were a nice addition, I guess? Still doesn't do enough to make the album very interesting and the cleans were just average tbh.

Man the melodies really are to sweet for this kind of music this time around. No edge what-so-ever. AE has been sliding down a slope into mediocrity ever since Doomsday Machine.

Not as good as War Eternal, but it's not a bad effort. Best track is The World Is Yours.

First off, I like the album ok. But why is Jeff Loomis even in this band? I don't hear a single stick of his style... purely promotional? Weird/sad/confusing.

But I mean I get it, I like money, too

Written by JÄY on 30.09.2017 at 06:33

First off, I like the album ok. But why is Jeff Loomis even in this band? I don't hear a single stick of his style... purely promotional? Weird/sad/confusing.

But I mean I get it, I like money, too

I'm sure Jeff is happy collecting a paycheck and I'm sure AE is happy about any influx of fans that having Jeff in the band gets them.

It is not a horrible album, you can enjoy it and there are some really nice songs. But it does feel flat and boring or at least repetitive at moments. Given the amount of talent that this band has, both in Alissa, Michael and Jeff (who did not write anything for the album, which in hindsight might be a mistake) one would expect this to feel better than the previous one.. I gave it six, but maybe I am a bit too harsh since I am a bit disappointed.

The album is OK. Repetitive, a bit too generic but not as bad as I read. I wonder why nobody wrote a full review on this one. I remember reading one voting for more clean vocals for AE : despite the fact that I do consider Alissa White-Gluz as a good clean vocalist, Reason to Believe is an uninteresting song to me and I don't really like the idea. I liked the previous album War Eternal better, it's like they lost that thing again. My favourite are The World is Yours, The Race and Murder Scene.

Not something special,not something that we expect from Arch Enemy. Alissa's Voice is much stronger than previous record.
I wonder why the solos are amazing as always and we have so much creativity in them but the main riffs are so boring. Murder Scene is a copy of Children of Bodom style I mean Is Arch Enemy going to lack ideas

This one's quite a letdown after the great comeback that was war eternal, truly amongst their least memorable releases. It does have some great songs, especially the first 2 (and the instrumental opener), but it all goes downhill from there, the lowest of the lows being achieved at "reason to believe". Overall it's quite a disappointing release.

According to This Jeff Loomis revealed that he has spent much of his coronavirus downtime recording a new solo LP. It will be intrumental. same time he said he wrote new solos to AE album.

Not surprise, seems many bands put new albums out,

"I love you to death" - at least Arch Enemy (and Amon Amarth) have been my entry to (melodic) death metal. I do respect everything the band has done before I was ready for death metal in general. But I do love the lineup based on this particular AE phase. "The World Is Yours" is not a small promise, which will keep me intrigued.