The titans of melodic death metal are back! No, this is not a drill, Arch Enemy is about to release their twelfth studio album Blood Dynasty. This opus features eleven new tracks blasting the band’s signature powerful guitar riffs and guttural force, but it is also full of surprises. As we near the 30th anniversary of the band, founding member Michael Amott commented “This is our 12th studio album, and the rule of metal is that you’ve got to keep trying to say the same thing, but in slightly different ways! There’s a degree of familiarity in our sound, which I don’t see as a problem because we’re playing the music we love. But obviously, we’ve got to throw a couple of curveballs in there each time, a few new interesting things to spice it up a little bit. How do you get people talking about your record when it’s the 12th one, you know?”. And that’s why we’re here folks - so let’s talk about it!
Before we get into the songs, it’s important to salute the powerful work done on the album’s cover. It grabs your attention and sucks you into its universe before making the slightest sound. In a beautifully decrepit depiction of a royal family, we see crowns resting on decayed skulls, military uniforms draped over their figures, giving hints of what they used to be. A river of blood rising with desperate hands coming out finishes the piece. It questions power, legacy and what makes a community.
Expectations are therefore already set high when the opus starts to play, anticipation rising like the river of blood as 'Dream Stealer' loads in. It doesn’t let down, coming out with a very goth opening, full of flair and drama, almost Phantom of the Opera worthy. But before you get used to it too much, hell unleashes with a very fast and bullet-like rhythm. But before you know it, we are diving into a heavy metal arrangement before the chorus. This feels not only like a song but like a catalyst of what’s to come in this album. A mix of styles, something old and something new. We are strapping in for a surprise, expecting influences from many horizons. Last but not least, the back choir on the chorus has an anthemic quality, making this song something that is bound to be exciting live.
Like we’re switching gears, 'Illuminate the Path' brings in something that is pure metal. With a great balance between lyricism, heaviness, and screaming, this will make all long-time fans happy. It is almost a comfort song for fans, as they can trust the band’s roots to be the same despite experimentation. It is not without a tad of gothic flair, reminding us of the beginning of the first song, building a red thread as we progress into the tracklist.
From the first beat, song three will get you hooked. 'March of the Miscreants' is more than just an average song, it is an absolute powerhouse. It is in your face in the best possible way with a very drum-heavy beat. Daniel Erlandsson takes the lead on this song, it is uplifting to feel the drums at the front with Alissa White-Gluz’s screaming almost following the drums, rather than the much more typical opposite. This track is not only innovative but downright hypnotic, and little to nothing is more exciting than the prospect of a live version. In its form of a battle cry, unifying and bringing people together, it feels like it is tailor-made for an audience. The music itself feels alive and tells a story, with instruments talking to each other., and the explosive end mirroring the feeling it’ll leave you with. Arch Enemy did not hold back and we love to see it. It establishes itself as one of the best songs of the genre already.
Needless to say, that feels hard to follow. What do you bring after such a mindblowing moment? 'A Million Suns' is short but sweet, with a speed metal feel that is most definitely interesting but not as memorable as its predecessors. 'Don’t Look Down' continues in the same vein, its most memorable point being that it feels like a continuation of 'March of the Miscreants' with the war cry “stand your ground”, making us wish the song order was swapped for it to follow directly after. Having 'A Million Suns' in between breaks the impact it could have had, merging these songs into a blur even whilst their potential is clear to hear.
But then comes 'Presage', an unexpected interlude. Whilst we know the band have done this before, it still comes as a surprise to hear its violin opening. A sweet Spanish guitar follows and gives a welcome, refreshing palate cleanse. It hits like a rest in between fights, to appreciate the sun in a field, and it makes you curious as to what’s to follow, especially as the title track is up next - whereby we enter a new quest, with a more symphonic and lyrical approach. It doesn't go without reminding us of Epica’s symphonic metal instrumentals, in all their grandeur and splendour.
'Paper Tiger' then takes over, the fourth and most recent single teased out of this album ahead of release. The band shared its enthusiasm for the song but also the album, saying “With Blood Dynasty almost here, we thought we’d sneak in another single for you! 'Paper Tiger’ is a personal favorite—these riffs are so much fun to play. The accompanying video was shot on a German airfield last summer with our visionary friend Mumpi. Turn it up and let it roar!”. And indeed it is made to roar with a very heavy metal instrumentalization, guitar riffs, and screams which drag into a higher pitch that is less common for the band. It reminds us to expect the unexpected even in what we know, and not to take things for granted.
However, here comes the real treat. With 'Vivre Libre' (Living Free), the band honours Alissa White-Gluz’s Canadian heritage. This cover of a 1985 song by the French hard rock band Blaspheme is nothing short of unexpected. While White-Gluz’s voice is known for its range and adaptability, this immaculate ballad with clean vocals will leave you with a mouth agape., to the point that this track was originally intended as a bonus but has made it to the final cut due to its stunning vocal performance.
Unfortunately, 'The Pendulum' suffers the same fate as 'A Million Suns'. It's an enjoyable listen, but it's always hard to follow such an impressive track as 'Vivre Libre'. Then, before you know it, we’ve reached the end with 'Liars & Thieves'. It is a strategic and well thought placement of such an anthem, calling people up for one last round. It encapsulates the spirit of the album well, combines clear singing heavy metal singing and guttural, punchy vocals. It also brings back a strong double pedal drum, which does not miss a mark. Its dragged out ending feels as it is leaving space for the crowd to join, already taking their input into consideration as part of the song for upcoming live shows.
Blood Dynasty was recorded in the band’s native Sweden with producer Jens Borgren, who was also on the band’s previous album Will to Power - and you can feel this new opus’ place in the Arch Enemy pantheon. This album is powerful, fully fleshed and takes its audience as an integral part from start to finish. While some songs suffer slightly from the star quality of others, every track is bound to find its crowd and settle itself within the community with time to flourish and exist independently after release. Whilst of course we wish it was longer, two additional tracks will be available in the deluxe editions which do alleviate that somewhat! This is an album made to be lived, experienced and shared, its impact only promising to double once the band hits it on stage. And guess what, you're in luck as the band will be going on a quest through Europe and the UK later this year, so you won’t want to miss this chance!
UK dates:
30.10.2025 Wolverhampton (UK) - Civic Hall
31.10.2025 Manchester (UK) - O2 Apollo
01.11.2025 London (UK) - Eventim Apollo
Score: 8/10
Blood Dynasty will be released on March 28th 2025 via Century Media Records.
Words: Lysandre Pons
Photos: Arch Enemy
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