ARCH ENEMY – Deceivers

Celebrating their 25th anniversary, Arch Enemy have returned with their 11th studio release Deceivers, released on August 12th, 2022, on Century Media. This is the first studio release since 2017’s Will To Power making this the longest duration between studio albums. The eleven song album has a running time of a little over 45 minutes with one instrumental. Deceivers is also the second album with the current lineup of Alissa White-Gluz on vocals, founding member Michael Amott on guitar, Sharlee D’Angel on bass, Daniel Erlandsson on drums, and Jeff Loomis on guitar.

Deceivers does not deviate from the traditional Arch Enemy sound of Melodic Death Metal, Heavy Metal, and Thrash. Deceivers starts off with “Handshake from Hell” which opens with an instrumental crescendo building up to a fist pumping Heavy Metal song with soaring guitars and Alissa’s growling vocals. This song marks the first time that Arch Enemy has a song with a mix of clean and growling vocals. “Handshake with Hell,” “In the Eye of the Storm,” “House or Mirrors,” and “One Last Time” are traditional Arch Enemy Heavy Metal songs with mid-tempo riffs, pounding bass, and a mix of double bass drums that go perfect for pumping fists and head banging. “Poisoned Arrows,” “Sunset Over the Empire,” “Spreading Black Wings,” and “Exiled from Earth” mix elements of Thrash, melodic choruses and changing tempos. “Spreading Black Wings” is a tribute to LG Petrov (Entombed) who passed away in March of 2021 from cancer. “The Watcher” blends elements of Thrash and Melodic Death Metal. “Mourning Star” is a dark and solemn instrumental.

Deceivers is one of the darkest albums Arch Enemy have written. This album reflects the current times of trying to overcome the effects of climate change (“Exiled from Earth”), dealing with deception and double cross, (“Deceiver, Deceiver”), to hell getting an angel in the tribute to L.G. Petrov (“Spreading Black Wings”).

Arch Enemy continues to evolve while staying true to what has made the band successful to date. Deceivers was definitely worth the wait and shows that Arch Enemy continue to deliver their trademark sound while adding new elements and dynamics to their music.