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Biography
For|other uses of the term|Archenemy (disambiguation)Infobox musical artist | name = Arch Enemy| image = Arch Enemy 01.jpg| caption = Arch Enemy performing live in 2008 (from left to right: Michael Amott , Sharlee D'Angelo , Daniel Erlandsson , Angela Gossow , and Christopher Amott ).| image_size = 250| landscape = yes| background = group_or_band| alias =| origin = Halmstad , Sweden | genre = Melodic death metal , thrash metal | years_active = 1996-present| label = Century Media Records|Century Media , Regain Records|Wrong Again | associated_acts = Armageddon (band)|Armageddon , Candlemass , Carcass (band)|Carcass , Carnage (band)|Carnage , Dismember (band)|Dismember , Eucharist (band)|Eucharist , In Flames , Liers in Wait , Mercyful Fate , Mistress (German band)|Mistress , Opeth , Sinergy , Spiritual Beggars , Witchery (band)|Witchery | website = http://www.archenemy.net/ www.archenemy.net| current_members = Michael Amott Christopher Amott Daniel Erlandsson Sharlee D'Angelo Angela Gossow | past_members = Johan Liiva Martin Bengtsson Peter Wildoer Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a Supergroup (music)|supergroup , from Halmstad , formed in 1996. Its members were in bands such as Carcass (band)|Carcass , Armageddon (band)|Armageddon , Carnage (band)|Carnage , Mercyful Fate , Spiritual Beggars , and Eucharist (band)|Eucharist to name a few. It was founded by Carcass (band)|Carcass guitarist Michael Amott along with Johan Liiva , who were both originally from the influential death metal band Carnage (band)|Carnage . The band has released nine studio albums, a live album ( Burning Japan Live 1999 ), two DVD s and three Extended play|EPs . The band was originally fronted by Johan Liiva , who was replaced by Angela Gossow as lead vocalist in 2000.
History
Early years and Black Earth (1996–1997)
Arch Enemy, the brainchild of Michael Amott ( Carcass (band)|Carcass , Carnage (band)|Carnage , and Spiritual Beggars ) was originally assembled when Michael Amott left Carcass. Guitarists Michael Amott and younger brother Christopher Amott ( Armageddon (band)|Armageddon ) joined with vocalist Johan Liiva (ex-Carnage, Furbowl, Devourment) and then-session drummer Daniel Erlandsson ( Eucharist (band)|Eucharist ) in what Michael Amott called "an attempt to merge melody with aggression and technicality".Citation needed|date=January 2010 The band's debut, entitled Black Earth (Arch Enemy)|Black Earth was recorded in Studio Fredman and released by the now defunct Regain Records|Wrong Again Records in 1996. It obtained a fair amount of success in Japan , achieving MTV rotation with their first single "Bury Me an Angel", as well as moderate success in Sweden. At this point, Arch Enemy was more of a "solo effort" than a full band; Michael Amott wrote all the songs himself, and even played bass guitar on the album, contrary to the album's liner notes, which listed vocalist Johan Liiva as handling bass duties. Amott later revealed that he had the credits listed that way to make the album seem more of a "band" effort. Many consider it to be the band's most aggressive album, a trait that was softened to some degree on its following releases, but never abandoned.Citation needed|date=January 2010
Stigmata , Burning Bridges , and Gossow (1998–2000)
After the release of Black Earth the band switched labels, signing a contract with Century Media . In 1998 Arch Enemy released Stigmata (Arch Enemy album)|Stigmata , for which bassist Martin Bengtsson and drummer Peter Wildoer joined the band. The album caught the attention of a wider audience, gaining popularity in both Europe and United States|America . This was also the first Arch Enemy album to be released worldwide.
In 1999, Sharlee D'Angelo assumed the role of Arch Enemy's bassist, and Daniel Erlandsson was once again recruited to handle drum duties, this time on a permanent basis. Burning Bridges (Arch Enemy album)|Burning Bridges was released, and was soon followed by the live album Burning Japan Live 1999 , which was initially a release limited to Japan, but later given worldwide distribution due to strong demand.Citation needed|date=January 2010 During the touring-cycle for Burning Bridges , Sharlee D'Angelo was temporarily replaced twice; first by Dick Lövgren ( Meshuggah , ex- Armageddon (band)|Armageddon ) and then by Roger Nilsson (ex- Spiritual Beggars , Firebird (band)|Firebird , The Quill (band)|The Quill ). Burning Bridges marked a shift in Arch Enemy's core sound, now opting for a more melodic approach, while still keeping the original melodic death metal-sound first heard on the first two albums.Citation needed|date=January 2010 In November 2000, vocalist Johan Liiva was asked to quit the band. Michael Amott stated that the he wanted more dynamics from the band's frontman, and that Liiva's live performance was not up to par with the rest of the band.cite web|url= http://www.ragnarokradio.co.uk/2009/02/episode-33-angela-gossow-interview.html |last=Ragnarok Radio |publisher=Ragnarok Radio |title=Ragnarök Radio Interview with Angela Gossow |date=2009-02-22 |accessdate=2009-02-25 Liiva was soon replaced by amateur German journalist and death metal vocalist Angela Gossow , who had given a Demo (music)|demo tape to Christopher Amott earlier that year during an interview she had conducted with him. Gossow proved to be a talented vocalist and has been with the band ever since.
Wages of Sin and Anthems of Rebellion (2001–2004)
The first album with songs featuring Gossow was Wages of Sin , released in 2001. This is also the first album where the band used C tuning , which they have kept until the present.Citation needed|date=January 2010 In December of the same year, Arch Enemy took part in the "Japan's Beast Feast 2002" concert, playing alongside Slayer and Motörhead .
Anthems of Rebellion was released in 2003 and brought some innovations, such as the use of a second voice singing in harmony; such as in the "End of the Line" and "Dehumanization" tracks. In November of the following year, the band released the extended play|EP Dead Eyes See No Future , which featured live recordings, along with covers of Manowar (band)|Manowar , Megadeth and Carcass (band)|Carcass songs. In June 2004, the band embarked upon Japan touring with Japanese act Edge of Spirit (band)|Edge of Spirit .cite news|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=23318|title=ARCH ENEMY: Japanese Support Acts Announced |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=2004-06-05|accessdate=2009-08-10
Doomsday Machine (2005–2006)
In June 2005, Arch Enemy finished the recording for their sixth album, Doomsday Machine (album)|Doomsday Machine . In July 2005, guitarist Christopher Amott left the band in order to focus on his personal life. He was temporarily replaced by guitarist Gus G. ( Ozzy , Firewind ) and then by Fredrik Åkesson in September 2005. Christopher returned on a permanent basis in March 2007, shortly before the band entered the studio to begin recording their new album with producer Fredrik Nordström (who has produced for acts such as In Flames and Soilwork).cite news|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=69181 |title=Arch Enemy: Guitarist Christopher Amott Rejoins The Fold |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=2007-03-22 |accessdate=2010-08-22 Åkesson went on to become Opeth 's new lead guitarist in May 2007. An album from Arch Enemy's earlier work, Black Earth , was reissued on April 24, 2007, with Liiva's vocals.
Rise of the Tyrant (2007–2008)
Arch Enemy's seventh album, entitled Rise of the Tyrant was released on September 24, 2007 in Europe and September 25, 2007 in the United States. Rise of the Tyrant debuted at number 84 on the Billboard 200| Billboard 200 chart. This surpassed the Doomsday Machine chart entry, making it the band's highest charting effort to date. Gossow said the new album has more emotion and less double vocals, as well as less vocal processing, yielding a more "raw" presentation.cite news|url= http://www.archenemy.net/news/2007/05/angela_gossow_offers_update_fr.php#more |title=Angela Gossow offers update from the studio (incl. video). |first=Angela |last=Gossow |publisher=Archenemy.net |date=2007-03-16|accessdate=2010-08-22
Arch Enemy played the Bloodstock Open Air Festival in August 2007, between Sabbat (band)|Sabbat and In Flames .cite news|url= http://www.bloodstock.uk.com |title=Bloodstock Heavy Metal Festivals |publisher=Bloodstock.uk |date= |accessdate=2010-08-22 They then performed on the Black Crusade tour at the end of 2007 with Machine Head (band)|Machine Head , Trivium (band)|Trivium , DragonForce and Shadows Fall . With this, as Michael Amott reported on the band's website, "These will be the first European shows we do with Arch Enemy after the release of our new album".Citation needed|date=March 2009 On March 8, 2008, Arch Enemy filmed a live show in Tokyo, Japan for the live DVD Tyrants of the Rising Sun .cite news |url= http://www.creativeman.co.jp/archives/2008/arch_shadow/archenemy.html |title=Arch Enemy's Audio Message for Japanese Fans |publisher=creativeman productions |date=2008-03-05 |accessdate=2008-03-05 Arch Enemy also co-headlined the "Defenders of the Faith" tour in April 2008 with Opeth , while DevilDriver and 3 Inches of Blood opened for them. They then headlined the "Tyranny and Bloodshred" tour in May 2008 with Dark Tranquillity , Divine Heresy , and Firewind as supporting acts.
The Root of All Evil (2009–2010)
Arch Enemy's eighth album titled The Root of All Evil (album)|The Root of All Evil was released on September 28, 2009 in Europe, September 30 in Japan, and October 6 in the United States.cite news|url= http://www.archenemy.net/news.php |title=Merci Beaucoup, France and Luxembourg - Arch Enemy Tour Recap |publisher=Archenemy.net |date=2007-03-16|accessdate=2010-08-22 The Root of All Evil (album)|The Root of All Evil features twelve re-recorded songs spanning the band's career before Gossow joined as vocalist, with some material pre-dating D'Angelo as their bassist.cite news|url= http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm? newsid=39147 |title=Arch Enemy Plans To Re-Record Album Of Early Material, ... |first=Martin |last=Popoff |publisher=MetalUnderground.com |date=2008-09-22 |accessdate=2010-08-22cite news|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=122425 |title=ARCH ENEMY: 'The Root Of All Evil' Coming This Fall |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=2009-06-23 |accessdate=2010-08-22 In the first half of 2009, the band toured Europe and South America , and then played at the annual " Dubai Desert Rock Festival " alongside Opeth , Chimaira , and Motörhead .cite news |url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=104781|title=Dubai Desert Rock Festival 2009 attendance press release |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=2008-09-15|accessdate=2008-10-06cite news|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=109574 |title=Motorhead to Headline Dubai Desert Rock Festival |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=2008-11-25 |accessdate=2010-08-22cite news|url= http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/General/10292458.html |title=Metal lives at Dubai's Desert Rock festival |first=Shyama |last=Kumar |publisher=Gulfnews.com |date=2009-03-07 |accessdate=2009-03-17 Following the release of The Root of All Evil on September 28, 2009, the band embarked on an Asia n and Australia n tour, which included their first visit to New Zealand . The tour started at the "Loud Park festival" in Japan on October 17, supplementing other acts including Megadeth , Judas Priest , Slayer , Anthrax (band)|Anthrax , Rob Zombie and Children of Bodom . They also toured in South Korea on October 25, headlining at the Melon AX Hall in Seoul, supported by Fatal Fear .cite news|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=121388 |title=Arch Enemy guitarist says band will have news studio recording available by October |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=2009-06-05 |accessdate=2009-07-04
Khaos Legions (2011)
According to a September 2010 interview with Angela Gossow , Arch Enemy entered the studio on December 1 to begin recording their ninth album for a release in June 2011, according to the band's website.cite news|url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx? mode=Article& newsitemID=146785 |title=ARCH ENEMY To Enter Studio In December |publisher=Blabbermouth.net |date=2009-09-28 |accessdate=2009-09-29 The title for the new album is Khaos Legions . The first single from the album was released on the Century Media website on March 31, entitled "Yesterday is Dead and Gone". The album was released on 31 May 2011. On December 12th, the band announced that they would be filming a show in Cologne the following day for an upcoming live DVD entitled "World Khaos Tour".cite news|url= http://archenemy.net/2011/ |title=ARCH ENEMY - FILM COLOGNE SHOW ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13TH& #33; |publisher=archenemy.net |date=2011-12-12 |accessdate=2011-12-14
Band members
;Current members
Christopher Amott - guitar (1996–2005, 2007–present)
Michael Amott - guitar (1996–present), Keyboard instrument|keyboards on Doomsday Machine (album)|Doomsday Machine and Rise of the Tyrant
Sharlee D'Angelo - bass guitar (1999–present)
Daniel Erlandsson - drums (1996, 1998–present)
Angela Gossow - lead vocals (2001–present)
;Former members
Martin Bengtsson - bass guitar (1997-1998)
Johan Liiva - vocals (1996–2000)
Peter Wildoer - drums (1997)
;Touring and session members
Fredrik Nordström – Keyboard instrument|keyboards on Black Earth (Arch Enemy album)|Black Earth , Stigmata (Arch Enemy album)|Stigmata and Burning Bridges (Arch Enemy album)|Burning Bridges
Per Wiberg - piano , grand piano & mellotron on Burning Bridges (Arch Enemy album)|Burning Bridges and Keyboard instrument|keyboards on Wages of Sin , Anthems of Rebellion and Khaos Legions
The Root of All Evil (album)|The Root of All Evil (2009)
Khaos Legions (2011)
References
Reflist|2
External links
Portal|Heavy metal musicCommons category|Arch Enemy
http://www.archenemy.net/ Official website
ArchEnemy DEFAULTSORT:Arch Enemy Category:Musical quintets Category:Musical groups established in 1996 Category:Century Media Records artists Category:Swedish melodic death metal musical groups
