(Century Media)

Dead Eyes See No Future, the recently released EP from Sweden’s Arch Enemy, is a tasty compilation of songs that really showcase the band’s remarkable musicianship, along with their undeniably killer sound. All the songs on this album are recordings with Germany’s Angela Gossow, who has been in the group’s employ since the 2002 release of Wages of Sin.

The first, and title track of this album is taken from their 2003 release Anthems of Rebellion. The guitar work of brothers Michael and Christopher Amott really shines on this song. These guys are a couple of Swedish axe murderers. A first time Arch Enemy listener might really catch it when they hear the nut-crushing intro and vocalist Angela Gossow belting out – “GIVING OUR BLOOD TO THE DOOMSDAY MACHINE!”- “Dead Eyes See No Future” is a very catchy opener. Complete with very clean, Schenker-esque leads, the drumming of Daniel Erlandsson is phenomenal, too. Sonic, Kryptonic, better than your neighbor’s chronic hydroponic, ya heard me?

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The next three tracks are live, recorded from a Paris show in 2004. “Burning Angel” is the most noteworthy, however “We Will Rise” and “Heart of Darkness” are loaded with attitude, and do not lack the punch of a typical live Arch Enemy performance. Even on an off-night I would wager that these guys could kick the shit out of most of these big label or too hype, no pulse, limp tooled, let’s play evil, so-called bands. In fact I’ve seen them do it, but I won’t say anything more regarding that. This is supposed to fun. Why am I getting upset? Point being: Angela, Sharlee, Michael, Christopher, and Daniel put their all into playing live.

The three covers on this EP are good picks for the most part. Arch Enemy do Megadeth very proud with their version of “Symphony of Destruction.” This is guitar heaven here, brothers and sisters. Drummer Daniel Erlandsson and bassist Sharlee D’Angelo slow it down slightly, and this gives Angela full reign to belt out her vox, with as much ferocity as you’d expect from this girl. “Kill With Power” is done tight and right, especially if you are an Arch Enemy fan. This song would be great done as an instrumental-only, because the vocals could make an impressionable person want to go do a drive-by shooting. Personally, I never got the Manowar thing. Good cover, nonetheless. This cover has some outrageous drumming by Daniel Erlandsson. And the third cover is “Incarnated Solvent Abuse,” a Carcass tune, which is one of the bands from where guitarist Michael Amott came up from. This death metal diddy has the whole band putting it together brilliantly. It’s amazing how tight these guys play together, but they pour emotion into their music, so it’s not just about playing loud or fast. One note held two or four counts can say so much more than shredding through a flurry of noise. When you hear the Amotts’ guitar playing, it’s evident they have been influenced by the greats.

A visual bonus is a video clip of “We Will Rise,” which is included on the EP. Angela is front and center, tearing it to pieces. Dead Eyes See No Future is but a snapshot of a real band, keeping it real.

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metal_mayhem - 3/24/2005 10:49:38 PM
or both

metal_mayhem - 3/24/2005 10:47:31 PM
and ill marry angela or tarja

metal_mayhem - 3/24/2005 10:45:53 PM
evanescence can suck angela's ass

davesmetal - 1/14/2005 11:43:48 AM
Angela is HOT and rocks harder on stage than most male singers!!!! Arch Enemy kicks ass!!!!!

Death_Chronicle - 1/14/2005 8:49:22 AM
Anyone intersted in hearing great medical Grind in the old school vein of Carcass need to check out the Century Media band Impaled. Funniest motherfuckers in metal today. www.impaled.info

DESTRUCTION04 - 1/13/2005 7:37:47 AM
thanks for the "say no to drugs" public service announcement,langman.

langman - 1/12/2005 2:56:01 AM
ANGELA MAKES THEE ARCH

langman - 1/12/2005 2:54:06 AM
B.L.S. TAMPA CHAPTER ...........SDMF

langman - 1/12/2005 2:52:31 AM
beneath thee remains mutha fka

langman - 1/12/2005 2:50:48 AM
ev everybody listen???????????????????!!!!!right..arch enemy yep ,,thee haunted\old school at thee gates hell yeah new obituary coming soon tampa metal head

The_PMRC - 1/10/2005 3:20:33 PM
Personally, I'd suggest the Kareoke version of any Arch enemy album... you know, it has the music and no vocals...

Rex_D_Carr - 1/8/2005 3:56:50 PM
Herad of these guys, yet to have heard any music by them. Carcass kicked some ass back in the day.

Legion666 - 1/8/2005 4:02:25 AM
CARCASS!!!

Boris9x9 - 1/7/2005 9:08:59 PM
why cut on me deadwrong? these guys hired her to be their lead singer, so rip on them.

MetalOne - 1/7/2005 2:45:20 PM
I agree with rippen. I would like to add that their Black Earth album is also really good, but with Johan Liiva on vocals.

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