Sweden's mainstay pioneers of melodic death metal, Arch Enemy have been thrilling metal audiences the world over since 1996, last paying a visit to Australian shores in 2018.
This Valentine's Day, lovers of pummelling blast beats, roaring vocals and scorching twin-guitar attacks were treated royally, as the band kicked off the first Australian date of their tour at The Gov in Adelaide; having thrilled a sizeable Kiwi audience in Auckland the previous weekend.Armed with ferocious, conceptually grandiose and consistently catchy new material – 2022's 'Deceiver', an album met with major critical and fan acclaim – the band, led by vocalist Alissa White-Gluz set out to impress the South Australian contingent with their unique blend of extreme metal, melodic hooks and a deeply impassioned performance.
The headline set started off with an urgent uproar as Arch Enemy surged into the lead single from aforementioned latest release, 'Deceiver, Deceiver'.
Image © Mike Lockheart
With the crowd enraptured by the immediacy of the band's energy and the sheer power and volume of the galloping riff work, led by founder Michael Amott and legendary American virtuoso Jeff Loomis on guitars, the band proceeded to deep-dive into its sizeable and consistent back catalogue.
They proceeded to play a selection of tracks spanning their illustrious career, with particular focus given later on to landmark album 'Wages Of Sin', including some of its cornerstone tracks: 'Ravenous' and 'Enemy Within'.
The audience – made up of a legion of die-hards clued in with the lyrics and accompanying riffs that are frankly so good they can be sung along to as well – upheld and ensured the atmosphere was consistently electric, as recognised by the band; none more so than by the affable Amott, grinning ear to ear and keen to play up to his Guitar Hero status to the front rows.
Image © Mike Lockheart
Stacked up against beloved material from their past releases, tracks from the latest release paired remarkably well, especially more recent singles 'Handshake With Hell' and 'Poisoned Arrow'.
On the latter, Amott and Loomis traded off blistering solos with precision and fluidity, in amongst razor-sharp riffing and a relentlessly pummelling rhythm section, comprised of Sharlee D'Angelo and Daniel Erlandson, driving the band's lower frequencies with his tireless, thundering drum work.
The former song, 'Handshake With Hell' allows a rare chance to enjoy vocalist White-Gluz' soaring and astonishing clean vocal abilities, also introducing a degree of theatricality, especially between the fiery vocalist and imposing bass guitarist D'Angelo.
Arch Enemy, relatively well known for grandiose stage productions, on The Gov's intimate stage laid on a visual show stripped down to its fundamentals, only serving to increase the sense of intimacy that the night's performance offered, allowing White-Gluz' ferocity and command to take centre stage and truly lead the room in not-infrequent bouts of fist-in-the-air chant-alongs.
Her militarial vocal leadership also carried and delivered classic fan favourites, such as 'My Apocalypse' and 'Blood Is On Your Hands' with a renewed sense of aggressive hunger and valour.
Image © Mike Lockheart
Indeed, during 'My Apocalypse', Alissa's electrifying stage presence took on a new dimension as she slithered from pillar to post – left to right on The Gov's stage – capturing the attention and gaze of most during an otherwise relentlessly brutal, if catchy song.
Further theatrics took place during 'The Watcher', seeing White-Gluz don an eerie off-white cloak, face veiled from view, offering witchy howls under the spotlight; reminiscent of the late but great Jill Janus of Huntress.
A deliriously uplifting song, spirits were truly raised in the room upon the live performance of this standout track from Arch Enemy's latest record. The band's energy was contagious; they seemed to be having just as much fun as the crowd.
Image © Mike Lockheart
Amott and Loomis put on a jaw-dropping display as they effortlessly switched between melodic leads and extreme riffs. Loomis' proverbial star, within the closing bars of 'Burning Angel' shone brightly, demonstrating a truly breathtaking guitar solo and the full range of the player's chops.
The night ended with an encore of legendary tracks 'Nemesis' and 'Fields Of Desolation', not before instantaneous and decidedly serious chants of "one more song" from the rapturous crowd at The Gov.
More photos from the show.
