ARCH ENEMY: Doomsday Machine

Produced by Rikard Bengtsson

Released: 2005

As I've said before, I really like Arch Enemy and by the time of this album they had been one of the leading acts on the European metal front for quite some time, with a combination of catchiness, technicality and songwriting strength that supported their reputation. However, 2003’s Anthems of Rebellion fell pretty short of expectations and it was becoming clear that they needed a strong return to keep them amongst it. Doomsday Machine had been long anticipated both by fans eager for a return to form and detractors equally keen to see this technically masterful band fall on its own sword.

While the album doesn’t fully succeed on either level, it doesn’t completely fail, either: Doomsday Machine is an improvement on Anthems..., but falls rather short of the standard they set with Burning Bridges and Wages of Sin. There is plenty of good things about the album. Overall, this is a heavier and darker Arch Enemy than previously. Angela Gossow delivers her most convincing performances yet, Daniel Erlandsson’s drum-work is faultless and the songs maintain an intricate technicality and melody while adapting something of a modern thrash feel.

The opening intro “Enter the Machine” is Iron Maiden worship at its height and the next track “Taking Back My Soul” offers everything one has come to expect from this band, with the added bonus of Italian guitar genius Gus G laying down some fretboard wizardry. “Nemesis” is fine also and “My Apocalypse” is a genuine highlight with its slower, atmospheric riffing and a truly stand-out vocal from Gossow (though to be honest, anyone would sound good with that much filtering on their voice). From this point on, however, Doomsday Machine starts to sound really repetitive. Not only does the band begin to regurgitate ideas from previous releases, they start to recycle songs from the first half of the album.

There are stand-out moments throughout and much to like regardless, but there was an unshakeable feeling here that after falling flat with the last album, Arch Enemy is just playing it safe. They certainly hadn’t lost the plot in the way Soilwork or In Flames had done, but they did need to rekindle the creative juices that made their first four albums true stand-outs.

1. Enter the Machine
2. Taking Back My Soul
3. Nemesis
4. My Apocalypse
5. Carry the Cross
6. I Am Legend/Out for Blood
7. Skeleton Dance
8. Hybrids of Steel
9. Mechanic God Creation
10. Machtkampf
11. Slaves of Yesterday

Rating: 68%