Artist: Arch Enemy
Label: Century Media
Release Date: 7/27/99
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Title: Burning Bridges Artist: Arch Enemy Label: Century Media Release Date: 7/27/99 |
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Abyss's Review:
Being a big fan of latter day Carcass, as well as this band's last album, Stigmata, I was eagerly awaiting the release of this album, and from the opening riff of lead track, "The Immortal", I was not disappointed. I don't think there is an album since 1994's epic Carcass album, Heartwork, that has delivered more crunch for your ten bucks than the last Arch Enemy album, and although their new effort is not quite as heavy, it is by no means anything less than brutal. Perhaps a more polished album overall, Burning Bridges takes the insane riffing heard on Stigmata, and adds a lighter, dare I say happier, guitar sound. I wouldn't think it unfair to say that the Amott brothers have listened to a good amount of Satriani, this is evidenced on "Pilgrim" and "Silverwing". With any other band it is possible for such sickly-sweet melodies to water down the entire effort, but Arch Enemy infuses it with such a formidable amount of chug that even the most die hard metal fan cannot dismiss it as fluff. The technical proficiency on the album is evident throughout, especially in the guitar work, but it never gives the impression that talent is taking the place of heart. The songwriting is so strong that I hope this band eventually enjoys the success of pre sell-out Metallica. True Heavy Metal that is played on such a level that the mainstream just can't ignore it. Many (die hard metal fans) may consider it cheesy due to the aforementioned melodies as well as whispered lyrics (evidenced on "Seed of Hate"), and the finale of "Demonic Science" (One of the best songs on the album, but I can't deny the fact that I can sing Lionel Richie's "Hello" to the closing melody), however, I put these people in the same category that saw "Heartwork" as a sell-out rather than a ground breaking album. I have no problem with a band changing their sound and producing something memorable, and possibly even ground-breaking, a sell-out is writing up to your ability. Thankfully, Arch Enemy has delivered and combined their commercial guitar licks with an under-chug that is nothing short of brutal. Yes, I've used the word brutal more than once in this review, which I guess is poor writing, but fuck it, this album deserves it.
"The technical proficiency on the album is evident throughout, especially in the guitar work, but it never gives the impression that talent is taking the place of heart."
Rating Revised for Metal Judgment Anniversary
Death's Review:
You like guitars? Double-bass drums? Expert musicianship? How about a vocalist who adds a bit more emotion to his growl than your average neo-death screamer? And how about all of that, only executed in service of on an uncomprimisingly METAL attack? Sound good? Try Arch Enemy.
Part latter-era Carcass, part Queensryche, part At the Gates, part Dream Theater, Arch Enemy deliver passionately-crafted yet focused doses of art-death aggression. The Carcass influence is not surprising, as Arch Enemy features the guitar talents of Michael Amott and his brother Christopher. However, the band's ability to pick up where Carcass left off in further mining the true and power metal forge, quite possibly acheiving even greater levels of musical sophistication and metallic brillance in the process, is expertly on display here.
"An uncomprimisingly METAL attack? Sound good? Try Arch Enemy." The riffs on Burning Bridges are technical and catchy. Yet it's the band's songwriting prowess which ultimately raises Burning Bridges gloriously above the rest of the musically competent true/death pack. Arch Enemy are undoubtedly masters of their instruments. More importantly, they remain masters of the metallic craft. For this, they deserve high praise.
"Demonic Science" is a perfect example. The riffs are as heavy, the attack is as intense as anything in metal today. Yet the clean, crisp production, ultra-downtuned rythym guitar tone and absolutely beautiful lead guitar work evokes the feel of some of Awake-era Dream Theater's finer moments ("Erotomania," "Lie"). It's balnace like this that keeps the record interesting, giving each song a level of identity not ordinarily achieved by bands of similar ilk. From the attack-style riffage of the opener, "The Immortal," to the slow, Celtic Frost/Type of Negative dirge of the title track, Burning Bridges evidences a confdident outfit blending a wide-range of influences, expertly crafting together these disparate elements while shredding their individual instruments into the next millennium.
In short, Burning Bridges is fantastic, and should garner the band some well-deserved wider attention. Those whom crave that melodic bliss only achieved by two guitars played in perfect harmony will undoubtedly look to Burning Bridges as a new milestone for artists with similar ambitions. But I just love the riffs, the masterful lead guitar work and the sophisticated songwriting exhibited on every track. Great riffs, sick leads, and killer songs? Almost perfect. Almost.
"Great riffs, sick leads, and killer songs? Almost perfect. Almost." What keeps this record from five stars is its impatient tendancy to sacrifice perfectly satisfying headbanging grooves in favor of an accellerated shift to the next set of occassionally over-indulgent musical gymnastics. That and, try as they might on portions of "Seeds of Hate," they just can't seem to out-Iced Earth Iced Earth. But it's not an exaggeration to label Burning Bridges as a great record. This one deserves your attention.
Rating Revised for Metal Judgment Anniversary
Hel's Review:
A great album. No question about it. The first track, "The Immortal", starts things off strong, in Slayer-esque style. You gotta love that! The tone of the album ranges between these thrashy Slayer-style riffs and the harmonic guitars we expect from the "Gothenburg sound".Track after track I find myself more drawn in. Each and every song on this album is awesome. The best part is, each of them has its own unique reason for being great. This is not one of those bands whose songs all sound identical.
The Amott brothers rip out amazing solos song after song. Pick out any track and press play. Now this, my friends, is exactly how a metal song is supposed to sound.
"It always leaves me wishing there was more." I only have one complaint about this album. It feels too short. Perhaps it's simply a result of "time flys when you're having fun". Regardless, it always leaves me wishing there was more.
Especially in light of that feeling, the last track on the album ends appropriately. "Burning Bridges" is another heavy track, but towards the end it begins to fade until it is this nice classical/haunted house melody and then is abruptly torn off the turntable, so to speak. Just as the listener is torn away from this remarkable album.
Rating Revised for Metal Judgment Anniversary
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