The staple of Melodic Death Metal, Arch Enemy, dropped a new single (and video), “Deceiver, Deceiver” on October 21^st. The last new material that we heard from them was 2017s Will to Power. I went to the Masquerade in Atlanta to see them on this tour, and reviewed the show and the new record at the time. The band released a record in 2019, Covered in Blood, which was a compilation of cover songs spanning the career of Arch Enemy.

So, as a brief recap, Arch Enemy have been a vicious Melodic Death Metal band since the mid-90s. It was rare, for many years, for a woman to front a band in Death Metal, but Angela Gassow was killing it! In 2014 Alissa White-Gluz took the reigns as the voice (and face) of Arch Enemy. War Eternal was the first record with White-Gluz, and it was a banger! Classic Arch Enemy musicianship – blazing riffs, haunting melodies, and flaming solos – with the power and clarity of the Canadian singer out-front. 2017s Will to Power was a departure in many ways from that classic sound. Oh, it was still Arch Enemy, with all the components that have made them a household name, but (IMO) it was listener friendly; smoother, and tamer. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked the record. But with the addition of Jeff Loomis (guitars), I think Arch Enemy was positioned for a huge leap forward in their attempted world dominance.

And that observation is clearly coming to fruition in the new single, “Deceiver, Deceiver.” Classic Arch Enemy melodies, with an evolutionary development forward. Where the guitar harmonies on Will to Power almost shared the spotlight with the vocals – (sing-along) riffs and melodies – this 2021 single contains more ominous and darker melodies and harmonies, which fill in the atmosphere of the song. They have become the theme music in a horror movie that warns you that a slaughter will soon occur. The lyrics cover a personal betrayal, and the wrath and rage in return. The vocals, as usual, are crisp and clear gutterals (with a bit of a biting howl, now). The movement of the song, instrumentally, is classic Arch Enemy – frenzied riffs with hammering drum work and smooth, speedy double bass; with very impressive dueling solos, in a flash, as well. Everyone delivers quickly on “Deceiver, Deceiver,“ both lyrically and musically. It’s really good stuff!

I am left with only one question: Does “Deceiver, Deceiver” herald the coming of a new record by Arch Enemy? We do not have a word on that, but I think so.

Stay Metal,

THE SAW