Khaos Legions Cd Review

This, Arch Enemy’s 8th studio album, Khaos Legion, starts off with a sense of urgency as its wailing siren song builds intensity and a sense of anticipation. Unfortunately the listener is left with a similar feeling for much of the rest of the record as you keep waiting for something to capture your imagination or shake your soul. Don’t get me wrong, the Amott brothers are doing what the Amott brothers do best, creating enviable swirling singular masterpieces of guitar wizardry but this results in a collection of amazing riffs instead of a collection of amazing songs. Unless you’re a single minded fan of shredding, this trip down mellow-dic death metal lane may not be your thing.

The unbelievable leads that duel throughout the album and the flawless riffing do not do enough to convince me that this much vaunted band has managed to come up with the goods or meet expectations. The production on Khaos Legion has sucked the soul right out and left us with nothing but a sterile and slickly subdued version of the edgy and erudite band Arch Enemy once were. Unfortunately they come across a little like Judas Priest’s very good looking but impotent cousin.

Everything is simply too precise and pristine, highlighting a modern trend that concentrates on overproduction in studio. If it were possible for an album to be too perfect, Khaos Legion would be the benchmark. Not only that but it is also a case of the sum of the parts not being as great as the individual parts themselves.

The song structures tend to be indecisive and although they’re assembled from an array of wonderfully executed building blocks, are fundamentally fragmented. This hits and misses until track 3, when funnily enough it is exactly that lack of cohesion that lifts the chorus of “Blood Stained Cross” out of the mix and exposes the fantastically catchy hook.

With renewed hope and a slightly more sympathetic ear, the next couple of songs, the best of which is undoubtedly track 5, “No Gods, No Masters”, make more sense and are thoroughly enjoyable until BAM! on track 6 “City Of The Dead” Pantera’s “Fucking Hostile” suddenly comes stampeding out of your speakers and you’re left wondering why they felt the need to rip off one of the greats so blatantly.

Angela Gossow’s vocal range seems to be somewhat limited. I don’t care if it’s a girl or a boy; I have a nagging suspicion throughout listening to this album that they have reigned in the ferocity in order to cater for a vocalist that is struggling to hit the low end of the register. As a result the guitars come off tinny and thin. Thankfully the glue holding it all together, drummer Daniel Erlandsson, does not disappoint, even if he does little to add force, but that could also be the mix.

Despite all these subjective flaws it is still an awe inspiring piece of work, the dual guitar work of the Amott brothers simply mesmerising in parts – if not most of this album. Their amazing ability is undeniable, but it simply becomes too much and sublime sections of shredding are lost in the haze as it all melds into one long searing solo. No piece is given the chance to stand out and garner the respect or admiration it so richly deserves. There is no contrast or dynamic.

If you want to appreciate this wonderful band at their blistering best, rather go and buy the live DVDs, where you can experience them at their gripping, stellar best.

Khaos Legions Tracklist

01. Khaos Overture
02. Yesterday Is Dead And Gone
03. Bloodstained Cross
04. Under Black Flags We March
05. No Gods, No Masters
06. City Of The Dead
07. Through The Eyes Of A Raven
08. Cruelty Without Beauty
09. We Are A Godless Entity
10. Cult Of Chaos
11. Thorns In My Flesh
12. Turn To Dust (Instrumental)
13. Vengeance Is Mine
14. Secrets

Arch Enemy Line-up

Angela Gossow − vocals
Michael Amott − lead and rhythm guitar
Christopher Amott − lead and rhythm guitars
Sharlee D'Angelo − bass
Daniel Erlandsson − drums

Guest musicians:
Per Wiberg − keyboards
Mikael Sandager − backing vocals

Arch Enemy Weblinks

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