ARCH ENEMY - Khaos Legions CD Review

ARTIST: Arch Enemy
TITLE: Khaos Legions
YEAR: 2011
LABEL: Century Media
REVIEWED BY: Caroline Restiaux

This year has already brought us some great metal releases and it just keeps better and better. Arch Enemy has always been one of my fave bands so when I heard that they were going into the studio to record a new album I was more then thrilled. "Khaos Legions" is heavy, melodic, fresh and yet it is still comparable to their other material. Their music seems to grow even though they have all mastered their respective crafts a long time ago.

I generally don't like intros on cds and find them to be a bit useless however the intro to Khaos Legions is a perfect beginning to what soon follows on this hard hitting album. The album is filled with intricate guitar work, killer riffs and awe-inspiring solos. One of the things that I have always loved about Arch Enemy is the fascinating guitar work that comes form the Ammott brothers. When listening to the guitar work you can almost picture the two brothers smiling away together as they play, almost as if in a competition with one another. Daniel's drum work on the album seems to have been turned up a notch with a good mix of fast and mid-tempo tunes.

Angela continues to improve on her vocals delivering raw emotion and becoming more extreme with every album. This time around the album focuses more on freedom, anarchy, fighting for your freedom, standing up for yourself and less about conforming to society's ways. I liked the line used in 'No Gods, No Masters' I am who I am take it or leave it. It is such a simple lyric yet it relates to so much for so many people. I guess what I am trying to say is that it speaks volumes.

The album starts off a lot heavier then it ends. It has a couple of instrumentals, nothing over the top to be honest. It is their longest album to date clocking in at 56 minutes. Rickard Bengtsson joined the band for production duties once again (he worked with them on their Doomsday Machine album back in 2005). The artwork was done by Brent Elliot White.

I am a bit biased about my opinion on this album because the band is one of my faves. I have always liked Angela's fury, the Ammott brothers guitar work and the whole melodic feel to their music. The album does have familiar song structures however they have been turned up a degree. Nothing has really changed, it has only gotten better! This album is a must for every metal fan.

TRACKLISTING:

01. Khaos Overture (intro)
02. Yesterday Is Dead And Gone
03. Bloodstained Cross
04. Under Black Flags We March
05. No Gods, No Masters
06. City Of The Dead
07. Through The Eyes Of A Raven
08. Cruelty Without Beauty
09. We Are A Godless Entity (instrumental)
10. Cult Of Chaos
11. Thorns In My Flesh
12. Turn To Dust (instrumental)
14. Vengeance Is Mine
15. Secrets