ARCH ENEMY – BLOOD DYNASTY

Review by Simon Hernandez

“The tolling of the bell
Man-made destiny
On a joyride to hell
Our legacy, a blood dynasty”

Quickly, if you read my write up on Lacuna Coil’s album. I mentioned a break from the band. Did I know it had been 20 years since I last listened to Arch Enemy? No. After listening to BLOOD DYNASTY, sort of regretted that break. There’s a super, refreshing listen to quality about this album. There’s great wailing solos where there needs to be – very little filler or foder. There are anthem type songs on this album worthy of being the ballads of yesteryear. Imagine 15 years from now, washing your “Classic” car from 2010, screaming phoenix on the hood, sitting in the drive way. Blasting a track or two from this in your groove.

Arch Enemy was introduced to me via a sampler in an issue of DECIBEL if I remember correctly. The album, Doomsday Machine(2005), which sent me further to 2002 and Wages of Sin! Little did I know I had an allegiance to a band and never knew it existed, but it was tried and tested when they swapped singers! But Angela Gassow didn’t go far, she still manages the band to this day. The reigns handed to Alisa White-Gluz. Surely – a band couldn’t have found another demon voice summoning creature, they did. But I wasn’t sold. Still scorned – immature – I stayed away, 20+ years away. I’m glad I chose this AE album to review because they are a band I regret missing out on. On BLOOD DYNASTY, Arch Enemy, reached and found their groove and made it seem effortless. Another band – celebrating it’s 30 year anniversary in 2025. It’s noise machine consists of some heavy hitters, past and present alumni, loaded w members from bands as CARCASS, MERCIFUL FATE, NEVERMORE, MEGADETH, CARNAGE & OPETH. The veterans of the game have brought it on this one. Track highlights for me personally, “Dream Stealer”, “Illuminate the Path”, “Dont Look Down”, and the title track, “Blood Dynasty”. Down below I’ve linked the least listened to track “The Pendulum”, (on Spotify) for some reason. It’s a banger too. Fun, picked up pace. Or “Vivre Libre”, feels like a heavy cover of a SCORPIONS tune. Its hard not to find something you like on it.

I’m a huge fan of artwork – artist Alex Reisfar completed a haunting image with great detail and violence. His 3rd run with the band. Blood Dynasty inspiration mission complete!

Even though this review is coming out after the album release, I have to mention my recent pick up, a set of HEAVY over the ear headphones – crisp and clean, have me going back to so many albums to listen and have new appreciation for bands and tunes. Definitely a great pick up.

The band is about to kick off their North American tour with support from Fit for an Autopsy, Baest, and Thrown Into Exile. My neck of the woods stop will be in Los Angeles on April 14th, pit tickets are priced pretty well, might have to treat myself!

Until next headbanging session. \m/

-Simon Hernandez (SixsixpntSix)