Arch Enemy

Despite the angry lyrics, the demonic growls, the twin guitar wail and double-bass battery, all the typical Arch Enemy trademarks in fact, Anthems of Rebellion comes across a little tame, a poisonous snake without its fangs. With Gossow’s death-rattle vocals, and tight performances all around, Anthems of Rebellion is a pretty delectable razor to the eardrums. It’s just so smooth (even down to the keyboards and clean male back-up vocals) — the hooks get a little old and it would be nice to encounter a few rougher spiny edges. Arch Enemy is still a great melodic death metal band; you just might find yourself cranking this one louder than usual before you get any serious aural blast.