.jpg)
Arch Enemy
Live Apocalypse
Century Media
Your apocalypse is here. Finally.
Arch Enemy might be one of the most consistently good metal acts around today—not to mention one of the most popular—but until now, more than a decade into the band’s career, they had yet to thrill the masses with a DVD release. It’s fair to say they’ve had some catching up to do, and the double-disc Live Apocalypse lives up to expectations, delivering the high-quality product the fans have been clamoring for, and doubling as a summation of a mightily impressive five-year run with vocalist Angela Gossow.
The usual trappings are here, from live footage and promo videos to tour documentaries, but despite a running time of more than three hours, tedium never sets in, with bonus geek points earned for the detailed look at the gear used by guitarist Mike Amott and drummer Daniel Erlandsson. The real draw is the concert filmed at London’s cozy Forum in late 2004, the band ripping through a set drawn primarily from Wages of Sin and Anthems of Rebellion. Andy Sneap’s impeccable surround mix is crystalline yet crushing, and the guitar interplay between Mike and Chris Amott is enthralling, but the real revelation is the vocal prowess of the charismatic Gossow, who thrives onstage, treating us to energetic run-throughs of early tunes “Bury Me an Angel,” “The Immortal” and “Bridge of Destiny.” Three Doomsday Machine tracks culled from a 2005 Manchester performance showcase Chris’ talented replacement Fredrik Akesson, neatly bringing us to present day. It’s concise, well-packaged, and fun. In other words, quintessential Arch Enemy. —Adrien Begrand
