Arch Enemy + The Black Dahlia Murder - Wrath Across North America 2026

Arch Enemy biography 2014 By Chris Dick Writer: Decibel Magazine “The greatest challenge for me is to keep improving every aspect of the compositions and arrangements,” says Arch Enemy founder/guitarist Michael Amott about new album, War Eternal. “I’m always searching for ‘the perfect Arch Enemy song.’ When I started the band in 1995 I had the idea to create the most heavy melodic band of all time.” And he did. Over the course of 19 years, Arch Enemy, under Amott’s guidance, crafted 10 acclaimed full-lengths, dominated sales charts, and toured the globe. If Amott were a smart man, he’d retire now to some tropical island with his favorite Michael Schenker records in tow and the setting sun on his face. But neither he nor Arch Enemy are done. Not by a long shot. With guitarist Nick Cordle and vocalist Alissa White-Gluz replacing Amott’s younger brother Christopher and long-time frontwoman Angela Gossow in 2012 and 2014 respectively, War Eternal is Arch Enemy reborn. “Changes in the band lineup are hardly ever looked upon favorably by the fans,” Amott acknowledges, “which I completely understand. Nonetheless, it does happen and the changes that have been made in the Arch Enemy camp were necessary in order for the band to survive and keep going. I love the energy of working with new people and Alissa and Nick have certainly brought a lot of talent and enthusiasm to the band!” In Cordle, Amott has a quick-fingered, high-energy sideman. A guitarist he can trade wicked licks, sick riffs, and wild solos with. Cordle’s first appearance in Arch Enemy was on the “Under Black Flags We March” video (from 2011’s Khaos Legions). War Eternal marks the ex-Arsis six-stringer’s full-length debut. “Nick was my first choice as he ticks all the right boxes for Arch Enemy with his musicality and technicality as well as his personality and dedication.” When Amott recruited Angela Gossow to front Arch Enemy for the Wages of Sin effort, he changed extreme metal forever. With White-Gluz, he has a new weapon. She’s a vertiable firebrand on War Eternal, her unrelenting roar, cruel rasp, and unique looks the mark of a woman ready to conquer the world. “My goal is to keep Arch Enemy alive and thriving!” White-Gluz exclaims. “I want to open a whole new chapter for Arch Enemy, powerful and diverse, all the while respecting the legions of fans that love traditional Arch Enemy. Fans can expect loads of pure fucking metal.” At 13 tracks, War Eternal is the quintessential Arch Enemy album. It’s both a nostalgic nod to the band’s past (“Never Forgive, Never Forget”, “No More Regrets”) and stunning example of what’s possible in the future (“Down to Nothing”, “Time is Black”). But if there’s a standout track—a spearhead—it’s the title track. Unveiled to the world on Youtube, “War Eternal” marches defiantly against the mundane, two raised fists to the constraints of society and the cage it desperately tries to put on us all. In it, White-Gluz proves she’s the next generation of great, while Amott and the rest of Arch Enemy play as if ”War Eternal” is their last song. That ”War Eternal” amassed an astonishing 1.5 million views the first 10 days is telling of its conviction and power. “There are a lot of details in this album that excite me as a songwriter and guitarist,” Amott grins. “Personally, I’ve pushed myself harder as player on War Eternal and feel I’ve gone to another level this time, which is very rewarding. I actually think the whole band has kicked everything up a notch or two.” Produced by the band and mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Paradise Lost) at Fascination Street Studio, the Swedes’ 10th full-length is unrelentingly brutal yet remarkably polished. “We could afford any big name producer at this stage in the game,” says Amott. “Having the band produce the album was a natural and logical way of working for us at this point. It was critical that we bring out the true Arch Enemy sound, the essence of the band on this record and who knows that better than us? Jens Bogren did an outstanding mixing and mastering the album. It was my first time working with him and I am more than impressed with his talent.” Expect Arch Enemy to wage war throughout 2014 in support of War Eternal. Remember, change is inevitable. War is eternal!

The Black Dahlia Murder formed on 2000 and some time later established themselves at the forefront of the then-burgeoning U.S. metal scene when they released their full-length <a href="http://www.last.fm/label/Metal+Blade/" rel="nofollow">Metal Blade</a> debut Unhallowed in June 2003. The release of that critically lauded album, however, was only the beginning of an epic journey that would find this Detroit, Michigan, quintet dealing with personnel issues (founding member drummer Cory Grady was replaced by Zach Gibson) and a nonstop touring itinerary that kept them on the road for nearly two years playing with bands as diverse as The Red Chord, Arch Enemy, Napalm Death and Terror. But those experiences ultimately had a profound effect on their latest Metal Blade release, Miasma. "The road has been what really made Miasma what it is," vocalist Trevor Strnad confesses. "Much of the content here is a direct result of our experience in the band." It is no surprise, then, that Miasma reflects the insanity of life on the road for five guys, barely over the legal drinking age, who were playing an endless string of shows across North America and Europe. "It's quite a bit more personal lyrically, ranging from anthems of cheap sex and drug use to more classic Black Dahlia Murder horror style," says Strnad. "I've tried to reinvent BDM lyrically here. It's still dark. It's still really evil shit." Strnad's growth as a lyricist is just one of the ways the band expanded its sound on Miasma. Guitarist Brian Eschbach contributed more to the writing process while his counterpart John Kempainen wrote and played solos for every track. As a result, The Black Dahlia Murder--rounded out by bassist Dave Lock--have created an album that reflects the bonds cemented by the band's two-year odyssey. Recorded and co-produced with the band by Scarlet drummer Andreas Magnusson at Planet Red Studio in Richmond, Virginia, Miasma is a deadly reinvention of The Black Dahlia Murder's nefariously nasty melodic death metal sound. It is a sound that Kempainen simply describes as "more pissed off." Strnad sees other improvements, as well, however. "The new songs are much heavier than anything on Unhallowed," he declares. "We were making a conscious effort to challenge ourselves as players and give each song an identity of its own. And the addition of Zach has enabled us as a unit to write more complex and interesting arrangements." Miasma is just the latest chapter in the ever-twisted saga of The Black Dahlia Murder. Like the long-unsolved murder of a young Hollywood starlet that the band took its name from, The Black Dahlia Murder's appeal is visceral and dark, a terror-filled exploration of extreme sounds and vicious brutality. And it is a step closer to the apex the band is still aiming its sights for. "I feel that we are yet to reach our prime," says Strnad, "but Miasma is many steps closer to where we want to be. We have a better band in 2005 and now a record to show for it." Their new album, Nocturnal, was released on September 18th, 2007. Current line-up: Brian Eschbach: Guitar John Kempainen: Guitar Trevor Strnad: Vocals Bart Williams: Bass (ex-<a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Today+I+Wait" rel="nofollow">Today I Wait</a>) Shannon Lucas: Drums (ex-<a href="http://www.last.fm/music/All+That+Remains" rel="nofollow">All That Remains</a>, <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Mensrea" rel="nofollow">Mensrea</a>) Past members: Nick Combs - Vocals David Lock - Bass Jon Deering - Bass (<a href="http://www.last.fm/music/From+the+Shallows" rel="nofollow">From the Shallows</a>) Cory Grady- Drums (<a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Premonitions+of+War" rel="nofollow">Premonitions of War</a>) Zach Gibson (<a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Abigail+Williams" rel="nofollow">Abigail Williams</a>, <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Gutrot" rel="nofollow">Gutrot</a>, ex-<a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Mutilated" rel="nofollow">Mutilated</a>, <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/In+Battle+Array" rel="nofollow">In Battle Array</a>) Pierre Langlois - Drums <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/The+Black+Dahlia+Murder" rel="nofollow">Listen at Last.fm</a>

Reunion of <a href="http://ws.audioscrobbler.com/music/Septic+Flesh" rel="nofollow">Septic Flesh</a>. This greek metal band originally formed as <a href="http://ws.audioscrobbler.com/music/Septic+Flesh" rel="nofollow">Septic Flesh</a> in 1990. The band's sound is considered to be comparable to (Atmospheric) Death Metal mixed with Doom Metal elements. The band has often been compared to other bands of the similar style, like <a href="http://ws.audioscrobbler.com/music/Paradise+Lost" rel="nofollow">Paradise Lost</a>, <a href="http://ws.audioscrobbler.com/music/Anathema" rel="nofollow">Anathema</a>, <a href="http://ws.audioscrobbler.com/music/My+Dying+Bride" rel="nofollow">My Dying Bride</a> or <a href="http://ws.audioscrobbler.com/music/Nightfall" rel="nofollow">Nightfall</a>. In 2003 the band disbanded for several reasons but reunited as Septicflesh in 2007. <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/+noredirect/Septicflesh" rel="nofollow">Listen at Last.fm</a>

While THROWN INTO EXILE is a relatively new band, theyʼve already become the talk of the town with high-profile opening slots for bands including Sepultura, Fear Factory, Chimaira, All Shall Perish, and more. But itʼs this summerʼs Mayhem Festival that will be the biggest proving ground yet for THROWN INTO EXILE, as they were able to win the “Road to Mayhem” competition over dozens of other bands to secure a slot performing on the same bill as Slipknot, Motorhead, Anthrax, and Slayer... a dream come true for all five of these hard-working bandmates. Another sign of good things to come for THROWN INTO EXILE is the fact that they are currently working on their debut EP, which is being produced by Mike Spreitzer of DevilDriver. As if that were not impressive enough for a band that didnʼt exist at the start of last year, THROWN INTO EXILEʼs members have also received endorsement deals based on their musical skill and high profile from renowned companies such as EMG Pickups, Peavey Amplifiers, Coffin Case, and Pearl Drums. How does a young band get such a great start? Founding members Mario Rubio and Colin Reed agree that itʼs all about one simple word: commitment. “We know that weʼre just getting started, and weʼre at a point in our career where weʼre so fortunate to get direct exposure and advice from people who have been at this much longer than we have,” says Rubio. “But everyone in THROWN INTO EXILE is more committed to the band and our music than any music project Iʼve been involved in before. We all are completely focused on doing what it takes to succeed, and we know that nothing good comes easy.” For now, that means THROWN INTO EXILE will be working hard... getting out on the road, getting involved in major tours, and writing and recording new music as much as possible. The music itself is whatʼs most important to the band. While not out to win any awards for being the fastest, the most complex, or the most brutal, THROWN INTO EXILE takes an approach where the song itself is what inspires the performances. The result is a band that does not rely on studio tricks to get their point across; instead, what you hear on the recordings is what you get at the live show. Itʼs not at all uncommon to see a person whoʼd never previously heard of THROWN INTO EXILE jumping into the pit and getting crazy from their first exposure to the music, which is fine with the band. “We know that we can only earn the respect of one person at a time, and the only way to do that is through our music,“ continues Rubio. “We want to be out on the road as much as possible. Itʼs the only way that people who love heavy music are going to understand what we bring to this party. I think that most of all, true metal fans are going to see right away that thereʼs nothing fake, nothing contrived about this band. We do what we do because we love it, and so will anyone who hears us.” For More Information Visit THROWN INTO EXILE on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ThrownIntoExile .