Source: Blabbermouth.net
In early June, ARCH ENEMY will unleash its ninth studio album, “War Eternal”, worldwide via Century Media Records and Trooper Entertainment in Japan. With this upcoming release, the band will introduce a new member to their ranks: Alissa White-Gluz, former vocalist of Canadian extreme metallers THE AGONIST. Angela Gossow, who joined ARCH ENEMY in 2000 and made her debut on the now classic “Wages Of Sin” (2001), will be stepping down as frontwoman and focusing on management, while Alissa takes her place.
Gossow comments: “Dear ARCH ENEMY fans, this is not easy to tell you… I have decided to step down from being ARCH ENEMY‘s voice of anger.
“After 13 years of pure fucking metal, 6 studio albums and countless tours through five continents, I feel the need to enter a different phase in my life, be with my family and pursue other interests. I will, however, remain business manager for ARCH ENEMY, and I will continue to develop my artist management roster.
“I am staying true to my heavy metal roots, just leaving the spotlight, so to speak. I am passing the torch to the super talented Alissa White-Gluz, whom I’ve known as a dear friend and a superb vocalist for many years. I always thought she deserved a chance to shine — and now she’s getting it. Just like I got that chance back in 2001.
“I want to thank all ARCH ENEMY fans, our labels Century Media (worldwide) and Trooper Entertainment (Japan), our dedicated road crew, and in particular Michael, Daniel and Sharlee for their love and support throughout all these years. It’s been one hell of a ride! We conquered every situation, made it through thick and thin together in the most exciting and rewarding time of my life. Thank you all for being there with me on stage, in front of the stage, and backstage. You have touched my heart, and I hope I was able to give something back to you. I am grateful for the wonderful memories – I will cherish them forever!
“I am looking forward to the next decade of ARCH ENEMY madness! Right now I am listening through rough mixes of the new studio album and I am blown away! 2014 will see a renewed ARCH ENEMY at the top of their game.
“I am proud to be part of this ARCH ENEMY chapter, albeit in a different way — revving up the engines behind the scenes.
“I hope to see you in front of the stage; I will join you there this time. Let the killing begin, once again!”
Alissa White-Gluz comments: “I am very honoured and happy to announce a new chapter in my life and musical career beginning now; I have joined forces with one of my all-time favourite and globally respected bands, ARCH ENEMY. ‘Wages Of Sin’ was the first metal album I ever bought, and it was love at first listen.
“It is not often that you get a phone call from your favorite band asking you to join! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such amazingly talented musicians whom I also consider great friends. I look forward to being able to write and perform at a whole new level now with ARCH ENEMY! Music is forever, metal is limitless and this is only the beginning!”
Chief songwriter and band leader Michael Amott, who founded ARCH ENEMY in 1995, comments: “We are eternally grateful to Angela for all her passion, hard work and talent. Her legacy is tremendous and will always be a big part of the band’s history. We feel great pride in what has been achieved in the past, but also look forward to new battles and new victories. We welcome Alissa with open arms — and we hope you will have open ears. We might have just created our most wicked metal opus yet with our upcoming album, ‘War Eternal’!”
“War Eternal” was mixed by Jens Bogren (OPETH, PARADISE LOST, KREATOR) at Fascination Street in Örebro, Sweden for a June release via Century Media REcords.
Comments ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott: “We’ve been producing ourselves, as we did on [2011’s] ‘Khaos Legions’.
“We have a clear vision of what we want ARCH ENEMY to sound like, and we can actually achieve it without the help of outside producers. We also have the advantage of having two talented sound engineers among our ranks in Daniel Erlandsson (drums) and Nick Cordle (guitar).
“We’ve been tracking at a few different studios here in Sweden — the drums at Fascination Street Studio and guitars and bass in another room. We just finished vocals in a third studio with engineer Staffan Karlsson (‘Khaos Legions’) and the mix and mastering will done by Jens Bogren at his Fascination Street mixing facility.
“Musically, this album is going a few places we haven’t visited before. As our fans have come expect, our albums have all had their own vibe and ‘War Eternal’ will leave its own mark. Lyrically, it’s a much more personal record, and I feel the songs have more dynamics and depth than ever before. The songs are loaded with strong and vicious metal, drenched in tons of melody and emotion. All the trademarks of ARCH ENEMY are present, just more in your face and turned up to 11.”.
Regarding the new CD title, Michael says: “A lot of times life is a struggle, a war against what I like to call ‘mental chains’ in society that try to prevent you from living life the way you want, that try to stop you from making your dreams come true. I have always resented that and I always will. The title sums up our collective attitude a band as well; stages will be destroyed, eardrums will bleed. There will be no choice. This, ladies and gentlemen, is ‘War Eternal’…”
ARCH ENEMY will debut new material on a short eastern European tour before the album is released; this trek will then be followed by an extensive run of European summer festivals, including Sweden Rock Festival, Wacken Open Air and many more. A full headlining tour in North America and Europe will take place in fall/winter 2014.
“Khaos Legions” sold around 6,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to enter The Billboard 200 chart at position No. 78.
The band in 2012 amicably parted ways with guitarist Christopher Amott and replaced him with American musician Nick Cordle (ARSIS).
On March 20, ARCH ENEMY will present the video for the album’s title track, “War Eternal”.
