Arch Enemy - Black Earth - guest review
Arch Enemy - Black Earth - guest review
Tracklist
01. Bury Me An Angel02. Dark Insanity
03. Eureka
04. Idolatress
05. Cosmic Retribution
06. Demoniality
07. Transmigration Macabre
08. Time Capsule
09. Fields Of Desolation
10. Losing Faith [2002 re-release bonus]
11. The Ides Of March [Iron Maiden cover] [2002 re-release bonus]
12. Aces High [Iron Maiden cover] [2002 re-release bonus]
Guest review by
Passenger August 18, 2006
Here we have a debut that not only reflects the maturity the members' previous experiences gave them, but also contributes to synthesize clearly the influences this new wave of Swedish Metal was trying to put together. Direct songs with generally mid-paced heavy Thrash riffs, Death Metal growls and a very intense melodic approach, reminiscent of the leads immortalized by bands like Iron Maiden - all this Arch Enemy knew how to mix for "Black Earth." While bands like In Flames and Dark Tranquillity struggled to create more experimental and intricate albums, Arch Enemy tried to present simpler structures, but with a more captivating and fresh sound; the hooks and catchy chorus are a constant.
With this I don't intend to say that "Black Earth" is a one dimensional or repetitive album, far from that. It may be pretty straight forward and easy to digest, but there's more to it then what you might think, as with most of Arch Enemy's records that followed. To prove it there's "Cosmic Retribution," which features all the typical characteristics but also a very interesting mid section where electric and acoustic guitar solos jump in, one after another; "Demonality" surprises with its Doom influenced riffs, a small song that seems to work as an interlude; and then there's also an atmospheric Metallica-like intro to the final song, "Fields Of Desolation," a seemingly average track clocking over 5 minutes that hides the best solo of the album to the very end of it.
Years have passed and the band has suffered some changes in the meantime, most notably the departure of Johan Liiva, and ended up releasing more prominent and interesting albums, "Wages Of Sin," for example, was a step forward and even technically it's a more developed album. Clearly there has been evolution in Arch Enemy's career, but "Black Earth" was quite a strong statement at the time it was released and it has aged well. Though personally I still consider it inferior to "Dark Recollections" and "Lunar Strain," it will hold its place in the Melodic Death Metal scene, if not for its high quality then for being the debut of a great band. For that, it is a recommended listening, along with the ones I mentioned previously. 8 out of 10.
Written by Passenger | August 18, 2006
Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.
Comments
Comments:
6
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Posts: 19  |
Posts: 19
I totally agree with the 8. I enjoy this album quite much, but cannot help wondering why they chose Liiva to sing for them with so many vocal talents out there. It literally sounds like a 15-year old screaming over his favourite song. I can but dream of a re-recording of this album with Angela Gossow in the vocal department. That would be a punch.
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 Posts: 2574 |
Posts: 2574
Loved the guitarwork on this album.
---- Savor what you feel and what you see Things that may not seem important now But may be tomorrow R.I.P. Chuck Schuldiner Satan was a Backstreet Boy
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| doof_meister
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 Posts: 2955 |
Posts: 2955 Written by [user id=19632] on 09.06.2008 at 01:16 That is kind an extreme statement, but I agree with you. Johan Liiva vocals don't seem so forced like in Angela..her voice is highly overrated. I also agree that the albuns with Liiva are the best ones from Arch Enemy, but the other ones are not shit. Anyway, ''Eureka'' and ''Cosmic Retributions'' are songs that deserve special attention, they are simply amazing. The solos in this album are among the best that i've ever heard, in an appropriate song structure that always makes the next move unpredictable. One of the best in the style.
----  ---- member of the true crusade against old school heavy metal, early 80s thrash, NWOBHM, traditional doom, first and second wave black metal, old school death metal, US power metal, 70s prog rock and atmospheric doomsludgestoner. o/
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Posts: 169 |
Posts: 169
Agree with doof. Arch enemy post liva is extremely generic and boring, except some good moments on doomsday machine. Liva's vocals are much better, but a bit weak on stigmata, all tho i love all their three first. Burning Bridges is the best 
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Posts: 720 |
Posts: 720
Black Earth is a good release.. but (for me), the production on the original release is not that great. On the other hand, the song-writing, originality and performance were all things Arch Enemy got slightly better at within each release.. i'd recommend Black Earth to the people who have bought 3 or more of the band's albums, not to someone who has just heard about the band. I'd say Burning Bridges, Wages Of Sin, Anthems Of Rebellion or Doomsday Machine are worth checking out first. The riffs/solos and overall guitar work on this album is cool it's just the production quality is fairly poor.
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