War Eternal

The latest album features a new Canadian singer from The Agonist. Personally, I find this album to be their best so far. I prefer the new singer's voice over Angela Gossow's as it is less gruff and death metal-like. The production quality on this album, as well as some of their other albums, is excellent. Unlike many extreme metal albums that are under-produced, this one has a top-notch production. I don't appreciate the retro sound that some bands aim for; to me, it just sounds like poorly produced music. It was quite a bargain at around £5, so I highly recommend getting it!

Sometimes, replacing a singer in a band doesn't work out (like Iron Maiden with Blaze Bayley). Other times (as seen with Nightwish), it doesn't really matter. However, regardless of the outcome, it always leaves fans anxiously waiting. In this case, Angela, the previous frontwoman, was unique because she could growl exceptionally well in a male-dominated genre. This meant that her replacement, Alissa, had big shoes to fill. Luckily, she has completely succeeded and brought her own style to the vocals. While slightly less gravelly than Angela's voice, Alissa adds more emotional angst which fits perfectly with the band.

Speaking of the band itself, they have truly outdone themselves this time around. Every track on their latest album is epic and unique; there are no filler songs here. The guitar work is still powerful and uplifting but has reached another level of greatness. Normally I only need to listen to an Arch Enemy album once to appreciate it fully but I can't stop playing this one. It is definitely their best work to date and fans will not be disappointed by it.

I've been a fan of AE for the past decade, but I do feel like they have lost focus in their last couple of albums. However, this new album is a strong return to form. While it may not be groundbreaking, it has a lot of power and energy. Alissa does a great job as the vocalist. The sound can be described as "melodic death metal," which suits it well. It has a bright and energetic sound with some impressive riffs. Interestingly enough, my favorite track on the album is the Mike Oldfield cover at the end.