| ARCH ENEMY in Auckland, this November... |
| Written by Luke Oram |
| Monday, 27 July 2009 15:47 |
 There are a few things the Swedes do well. One thing is snow-related sports. Another thing is death-metal. Obviously, this makes the country an interesting mix of wiry athletes who wear spandex... and long-haired, bearded Thor-like beasts who wear spandex. Spandex; is their cultural middle-ground. Long touted as one of the most brutal and exciting bastions of the melodic heavy-metal scene, ARCH ENEMY are bringing the pain down-under. The back story of ARCH ENEMY is so typically metal, you could use it to write the Heavy Music Bible... Case in point: ARCH ENEMY is the brainchild of Michael Arnott, of Carcass and Carnage fame. Arnott joined his younger brother Christopher (of Armageddon fame) along with vocalist Johan Liiva (ex-Devourment), recording their debut 'Black Earth', with it’s breakaway single ‘Bury Me An Angel’, followed by their sophomore effort 'Stigmata'. Eek. Armagedden’ outta here. Seriously though, the Swedes have collected quite a devoted horde of followers over their last ten years; delivering their melodic take on the European death-metal dish, combining the beautiful with the bloodcurdling in their live shows, which are a battery of brute force and razor riffs. And that’s not even the best thing – their vocalist is a LADY! Don’t be tempted to think that frontwoman Angela Gossow is the glam to ARCH ENEMY’S goth – she’s one of the most guttural and brutal forces in the band’s ham-fisted beatdown. You’ll be amazed. If I may borrow from Paul Henry; that is a scream, on a lady. ARCH ENEMY.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH TRANSMISSION ROOM, AUCKLAND ALL AGES Tickets on sale now.  |
