Thirty years into their musical career, it doesn’t take much of an introduction to cover Arch Enemy. Blood Dynasty is their twelfth album in as many years, and the perpetually prominent act has continued along despite some member changes through the years. The latest transition, and first in quite some time, has been the departure of Jeff Loomis and replacing him on guitar is that of Joey Concepcion. While Blood Dynasty continues to follow the usual pathways for Arch Enemy, it also has a few tricks up its sleeves that established fans should enjoy.
There are certain facets of the Arch Enemy sound that simply aren’t going anywhere, and that’s okay. Michael Amott’s flashy and identifiable guitar melodies and soloing have been one of the group’s standouts from the beginning, and they still continue to provide a number of highlights. “March of the Miscreants” features a high-flying and notable solo in its second half that features all of the staples you’d expect from the group, in addition to the song’s soaring riff patterns and headbangable chorus. “The Pendulum” dellivers the group’s punishing intensity when they go for the mid-tempo grooves, merged with the flashy guitar heroics. The title track sits as a solid reminder of a ‘classic’ Arch Enemy track, with it’s flowing melodic leads, stomping tempos, and standout solo, as well as an anthemic chorus.
But there’s still some noticeable differences this time around too. There’s a bit more adrenaline to be had through a number of the tracks, starting with the thrilling opener “Dream Stealer,” as well as stadium rock power of “Paper Tiger.” “Illuminate the Path” gives vocalist Alissa White-Gluz a much larger opportunity to display her clean vocals and it makes for a riveting power metal-esque chorus that is sure to become a live favorite. Probably the most notable track on the album is that of “Vivre Libre,” which again features some clean vocals sung in French (it’s a cover song). The slower pacing and greater emphasis on clean vocals make it stand out significantly, though they have done a great job of making the cover their own.
Blood Dynasty showcases Arch Enemy still has plenty of drive and hunger in the tank, 30 years in. It’s a great mix of some of their signature melodic death metal sound, with some increases in both tempo and heaviness, and some outside-the-norm melodies. It all comes together for a compelling listen that proves that Arch Enemy are still a force to be reckoned with in the metal scene, and worthy of the continued hype.