ARCH ENEMY

Deceivers (Century Media)

As melodic death metal goes, Deceivers ticks all the boxes. The 11th album from Swedish rockers Arch Enemy has classical undertones, fast guitars, obligatory solos, heavy basslines and demonic vocals. Yet for an album that errs on the generic side there are moments of beauty.

Tracks such as House Of Mirrors and Poisoned Arrow have melodic intros you wish wouldn’t end; Deceiver, Deceiver sees some insane drumming from Daniel John Erlandsson; and softer instrumental Mourning Star gives you a minute and a half to catch your breath before launching into the pumping beat of One Last Time.

Alissa White-Gluz (formerly of Canadian metal band The Agonist) provides the guttural snarls throughout; her ‘clean’ vocals can be heard only on Handshake With Hell and are less impactful. Deceivers has variety, no two tracks are alike, and there’s something compelling about an album that doesn’t give up all its secrets at once.

words LYNDA NASH