Review: Arch Enemy 'Deceiver' (melodic death metal)

[@simonbrayfromsot1375]

This is, to use a Pardoism, a stellar release.

[@garynewey9957]

Ty for the review Pete. So I went and listened on a stream. Handshake with hell just grab me and kept me listening to the whole album. Now I have bought it and waiting for it's arrival. I'm 60years old and this is the first time I listened to a Arch Enemy album. Now I will go into their whole discography. Again Ty Pete.

[@TheChadmiral69]

Looking forward to this review. I got my copy in the mail last weekend!

[@robmlisanti]

great album

[@MetalJesusRocks]

I’m digging the album a lot as well. And yes, I’d like to hear Alissa mix in more clean vocals with the growling heaviness.

[@MofosOfMetal]

I was hoping for more cleans too, she did a great job mixing cleans with growls on Kamelot's 'Liar Liar' and have felt it's a bit of a missed opportunity not to use that mixed dynamic more.

[@garynewey9957]

Yes just needed some more clean vocals as she has a great voice . But still a great album.

[@raYven74]

Amazing album and amazing band. I've been a fan since 1999...wish I was into them from the beginning but as soon as I found out about them I bought their first albums. Their music has helped me through a lot. Every one of their albums is a fucking masterpiece, easily 10/10 best band EVER!!!! and super nice people as well. They do so much good for animals and people too. By the way, the vocalists name is pronounced A lee sa...a lot of people get that wrong.

[@elijahloveell8809]

Awesome review Pete! I preordered this a while back and I’ve been listening to it constantly since it dropped. I really enjoy this album and my favorite track might be One Last Time. I love AE

[@scottlame6724]

I really enjoy the tracks I've heard so far from this album. I'll have to give the whole thing a listen.

[@dennisheflin2680]

This is an excellent album, it will place high on my top albums of the year for 2022.

[@mjnation7876]

My CD copy came with a signed postcard. I’d say this is their best since either Doomsday Machine or Anthems Of Rebellion. One of my favorite albums of the year so far.

[@Ninjabadger76]

My copy should be turning up this week. Really excited to hear this after the singles I was disappointed with the last album Will to Power but loved War Eternal. This one judging by the singles is back to the heavier sound of the Angela era which is what I want from Arch Enemy. My fav from the singles was The Eye of the Storm.

[@abe3802]

Have the CD since Friday. Quite good stuff.

[@markfurru3368]

I've listened to Deceivers a couple of times already. I'd have listened to it more to digest it a little bit better, but work's been busy. Plus, I also listened to the debut from that supergroup The Halo Effect - consisting entirely of former In Flames members, one of them also the front man from Dark Tranquility. And I saw that movie Bodies Bodies Bodies over the weekend. All three - Arch Enemy, Halo Effect, and Bodies (x3) - are excellent. This is easily my favorite of Alissa's albums with the band, so far. I definitely like it more than all three of Johan's albums, and possibly more than my least favorite of Angela's albums Rise of the Tyrant. Need to get a physical copy, though. I fucking love it!

[@dtltmtgt]

Liking this album! The vocals are incredible. "Sunset over the Empire" is my favorite song.

[@gellargod]

love it. Have loved Arch Enemy for a long time. Awesome live band. Saw them with Behemoth earlier this year.

[@robertmcneil2234]

Killer album. Arch Enemy were always on the periphery for me - loved the musicianship but not a fan of harsh vocals on their own - but Handshake with Hell was soo good with the mix of cleans and such well done growls that it won me over and I've enjoyed the whole album. Alissa's growls are so clear, as you say and the guitar work is stellar. So heavy, yet so catchy.

[@danprice6361]

i dont usually go for this style of music but ordered the cd yesterday after enjoying the couple of songs id heard from it. the power metal vibe got me

[@robmlisanti]

one of the best albums of the year i have it on repeat 👍😎

[@tnutz777]

good review, refreshing to see a peer enjoy arch enemy🤘🏼

[@danielflorio4739]

You need to hear the new Halo Effect album too. It’s 5 ex members of In Flames playing old school 90’s style In Flames/Dark Tranquillity.

[@fj5144]

Wow I just got turned on to this and it is wicked good!

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

Like the shirt Pete, reminds me of my Miami Dolphins. 😁 Definitely will check out the album. 👍

[@yurivogensen5438]

Good album. Another good album which has been mentioned in the comments is Days of the Lost by the Halo Effect, which I prefer.

[@dsnodgrass4843]

The fearsome presence of Ms. Gossow remains sorely missed in AE's later output. Though her replacement is very skilled and dynamic, that ferocity Ms. Gossow brought to the band's music just isn't there.

[@Zach-sm1cx]

Check out the Halo Effect album if you get a chance. It's amazing 🤘🤘

[@gwyld]

Killer album in my opinion, one of those albums that I like listening from start to finish.

[@vpovince1001]

Playing it now

[@w-james9277]

I think this is their best album since Doomsday Machine. It just has more punch than their other modern releases and those lead guitars are catchy as hell!

[@AlexVan1985]

Excellent album

[@pluckinmageetar]

I fall into the latter category, Pete,.. not a death metal fan but cannot deny the solid, fresh and plentiful "riffage" here. I'm nearing 60 and always liked my rock hard but that "growl" (unfortunately) has, more times than not caused me to shut it down and blow the band off at that point. Not so here. It helps that SHE is growling and not HE, which for a lot of us "latters" can justify a longer listen if the music's "right". Blame Mom and a bad marriage for that idiosyncrasy. LoL. Great review and thanks for the introduction to this incredible band and their mind blowing latest album. Gonna go deep diving now.

[@davidburns6284]

This album has its moments for me. I really like the aggressive verses and Allisa's vocals, but they lose me with the power metal, triumphant choruses. That cheesy, happy sound just ruins almost every track for me. If they just made some adjustments to the choruses and made them more aggressive & nasty, I would really dig this band. I did like the Angela Gossow years, mainly her first two albums.

[@martinnapier6286]

This is an absolutely fantastic album. Not one bad song on it. Definitely their best in years

[@metal-adventures-joerg]

Great Album!!!

[@timfalke3958]

guess I missed a few episodes. Nice new hair!!

[@seaoftranquilityprog]

A few episodes? I cut my hair a year ago.

[@ronaldeccles5147]

Does AE very well without anything new. This band so, so needs to use clean vocals much more - harsh vocals alongside melodic guitars often sounds incongruous. I have thought for years they have lots of good choruses they semi-wreck by doing them with harsh vocals - and also stops an opportunity for more differentiation as they can end up sounding samey.

[@MofosOfMetal]

Good to see you in the comments Ronald! And I totally agree. I want to emphasize that they do what they do very well, and their formula works, but they are selling themselves short by not mixing up the formula with 2 things - letting Alissa do more cleans and letting Jeff Loomis write riffs, he is in my opinion an even greater talent than Amott.

[@ronaldeccles5147]

Yes - he has a band that could make them better than his formula! First thing I've watched from sot for ages - youtube decided to 'recommend' it. Visions of Atlantis album pirates is what I've liked over the summer. Not sure it's for too many here! Hope you are well - and are you still persevering with butch's page?

[@MofosOfMetal]

@@ronaldeccles5147 Thanks, hope you're well too. I was, then my Facebook was hacked and when I started a new Facebook - I wasn't allowed to post in his group due to a security setting that doesn't permit accounts under 3 months old to post. I asked him to change it and I knew he was able to but he didn't seem fussed. So I decided to start my own group! I actually was inspired partly by what you had said a while back and I went for it. It has nearly 2100 members now! You're welcome to join if you wish, no need to worry about Butch looming over it and judging what we post! haha.

[@ronaldeccles5147]

@@MofosOfMetal What is it called - I will join if that is OK! Not sure how you did things is what Butch was looking for (!!), but surely it is something a lot of people do want.

[@ronaldeccles5147]

So found it. A lot of names I notice in about 30 seconds looking at it!

[@jason-budney7624]

Solid album, but didn't really keep my attention throughout. I was hoping for bit more traditional Loomis shredding.

[@rocioiribe5841]

i haven't cared for their last couple releases. they started sounding bored, repetitive and uninspired. but THIS! sounds fresh and fun! thanks for the review!

[@mutate34]

yeah, i like this new one too

[@MofosOfMetal]

My only 2 objections to this AE release - which I agree is strong - are 1) - the under-use of Alissa's cleans which really should be mixed in more to take the band to another level and add variety, and 2) - the under-use of Jeff Loomis' riff writing. I fully understand AE have a signature riffing style that Jeff clearly respects but, without putting AE down - Nevermore were a superior band. Jeff's riff-writing capabilities would complement Amott's and take the band to another level with more variety of creative input. They choose not to, and choose to stick to Amott's formula - which is GOOD, don't get me wrong, but Jeff is completely wasted in this band and quite frankly it p!sses me off. I get what you're saying, Pete, about Jeff shining with his solos - and they are great to hear - but he isn't given a chance to shine with his blazing riffs, and I can't help think that is what could have taken this record from a 4 star record solid release to an all-time classic 5 star effort. I guess I just miss Nevermore too much! RIP Warrel Dane.

[@irishspagetti6565]

for me Wages of Sin is their masterpiece, everything after has been subpar

[@kevinsmith7-7-7]

GREAT ALBUM

[@KreshDraven6]

I loved War Eternal and for me it's on the top 3 of the band, but the second release with Alissa was a huge let down. Really bland, sometimes boring and definitely nothing new. But this one ? Killer record, very mature and fun to listen to. Alissa sound better than never too. I think my only complain is that Jeff Loomis doesn't have the time that he should have at these records to show his skills, the man is a beast but never was able too show his real talent since he joined the band.

[@meyeboy2]

i thought this was a pretty kickass album from them

[@kevinm5957]

One of my favorite all time bands until Angela left. I feel they’re going for an anthem now with every song and the “you can do it” positive lyrics are overdone and annoying. Loomis is so underutilized in the writing and solos.

[@MorryB]

An enormous waste of his talent for sure.

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

Loomis is awesome

[@andrearabar3252]

I never see Pete dislike an album he review

[@simonbrayfromsot1375]

He wasn't a fan of the most recent Anvil release.

[@dsnodgrass4843]

That's our job. ;) Pete understands what they were going for; we assess how far they got.

[@sadekx5251]

I love the Angela era of AE but goddamn has this band turned into a lame ass Hot Topic caricature since Alyssa joined. I am glad for Jeff to get a good paycheck but what a waste here

[@gwts1171]

I've never gotten into this band. They've always seemed like a band for people who don't really like metal, but want to rock out now & then. I don't have any problem with female singers, but really dislike the vocalists this band has had. It's way too melodic for me. I'll obviously skip this one. Thanks for the video, Pete!

[@Eluarelon]

Hehe, tell that to all the metal fans here in Europe who absolutely love this band. Because there's quite a lot of us. And I think the rift between fans and nay-sayers might be way deeper in the U.S. than here in Europe, because like with Power Metal, there is a huge difference in the way Eureopeans approach the music and U.S. Americans do. Melodic Death Metal in its formative years is pretty much a European (or even Scandinavic) phenomenon and the focus on soaring melodies is just part of our DNA with all the classical influences that we grew up with. There's a reason why Arch Enemy can headline Wacken Festival, and I'm pretty sure that the people going there really like metal. ;)

[@ViolentBaalism]

2.5/5 for me