Deceivers (album)

Last updated

Deceivers
Deceivers (Arch Enemy album).jpg
Studio album by
Released12 August 2022 (2022-08-12)
StudioHansen Studios
Genre Melodic death metal
Length45:09
Label Century Media
Producer Jacob Hansen
Arch Enemy chronology
Will to Power
(2017)
Deceivers
(2022)
Singles from Deceivers
  1. "Deceiver, Deceiver"
    Released: 21 October 2021
  2. "House of Mirrors"
    Released: 9 December 2021
  3. "Handshake with Hell"
    Released: 4 February 2022
  4. "Sunset Over the Empire"
    Released: 20 May 2022
  5. "In the Eye of the Storm"
    Released: 14 July 2022
  6. "The Watcher"
    Released: 14 August 2022
  7. "Poisoned Arrow"
    Released: 9 February 2023
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Blabbermouth.net 9/10 [1]
Distorted Sound7/10 [2]
Kerrang! Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Metal Hammer 8/10 [4]
Metal Injection9/10 [5]
Metal Storm 7/10 [6]
Sonic Perspectives8.8/10 [7]

Deceivers is the eleventh studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. Originally scheduled for a 29 July 2022 release, the album was pushed back to 12 August 2022 for undisclosed reasons. Deceivers is Arch Enemy's first studio album since 2017's Will to Power , marking the longest gap between two of their studio albums. It is also the second and last studio album to feature guitarist Jeff Loomis before his departure from the band in 2023.

Contents

Background and recording

Writing began as early as October 2018: main songwriter and guitarist Michael Amott mentioned on an interview with Loudwire that he had "a few new ideas already for new stuff". [8] In February 2021, on "The Riffhard Podcast", lead guitarist Jeff Loomis revealed he was "doing solos for the new Arch Enemy album", though adding he did not know when it would be released. [9]

All of the album was recorded in Europe, except for Loomis' guitar contributions: due to traveling restrictions, he was unable to join the rest of the band, so they ended up "having him do his solos in the studio in Seattle". [10]

The song “Spreading Black Wings” is dedicated to the memory of LG Petrov.

Promotion

"Deceiver, Deceiver" and "House of Mirrors", respectively released on 21 October 2021 [11] and 9 December 2021, [12] were the first two singles from the album, each receiving a music video: however, at that time, the album had not been yet announced, and both tracks were simply marketed as standalone singles.

The album was officially announced on 27 January 2022; [13] the third single "Handshake with Hell" was released eight days later on 4 February 2022, along with its accompanying music video. [14]

On 20 May 2022, the fourth single "Sunset over the Empire" was released alongside a video clip. A 7-inch vinyl single featuring the single alongside "The Judging Eyes", an instrumental remake of War Eternal's "You Will Know My Name" , was commercialized in limited edition. [15]

The band announced that the record was postponed by two weeks on 6 June 2022, the reason being "unforeseen circumstances". No further information was issued about the topic.

"In the Eye of the Storm", the fifth and single, was released on 14 July 2022 with its music video. [16]

"The Watcher", the sixth and "final" single (until 2023), was released on August 14, 2022, which was two days after the album's release.

"Poisoned Arrow", the seventh and final single, was released on February 9, 2023.

Track listing

All music is composed by Michael Amott and Daniel Erlandsson except where noted

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."Handshake with Hell" Alissa White-Gluz  5:39
2."Deceiver, Deceiver"M. Amott 3:52
3."In the Eye of the Storm"M. Amott 4:09
4."The Watcher"White-Gluz 4:58
5."Poisoned Arrow"M. Amott
3:51
6."Sunset Over the Empire"M. Amott 4:03
7."House of Mirrors"White-Gluz
  • M. Amott
  • C. Amott
3:40
8."Spreading Black Wings"M. Amott 4:46
9."Mourning Star" Instrumental  1:37
10."One Last Time"M. Amott 3:49
11."Exiled from Earth"White-Gluz 4:45
Total length:45:09
Bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
12."Into the Pit" (Fight cover) Rob Halford 3:52
13."Diamond Dreamer" (Picture cover)Picture3:53
Total length:52:54

Personnel

Arch Enemy

Additional musician

Technical personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Deceivers
Chart (2022)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [17] 49
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [18] 2
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [19] 7
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [20] 13
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI) [21] 30
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [22] 5
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [23] 1
French Albums (SNEP) [24] 14
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [25] 2
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) [26] 33
Italian Albums (FIMI) [27] 85
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [28] 17
Japanese Hot Albums ( Billboard Japan ) [29] 14
Polish Albums (ZPAV) [30] 17
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [31] 17
Scottish Albums (OCC) [32] 11
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [33] 11
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [34] 9
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [35] 1
UK Albums (OCC) [36] 80
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [37] 1

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arch Enemy</span> Swedish melodic death metal band

Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, originally a supergroup from Halmstad, formed in 1995. Its members were in bands such as Carcass, Armageddon, Carnage, Mercyful Fate, Spiritual Beggars, The Agonist, Nevermore, and Eucharist. It was founded by Carcass guitarist Michael Amott along with Johan Liiva, who were both originally from the death metal band Carnage. The band has released eleven studio albums, three live albums, three video albums and four EPs. The band was originally fronted by Johan Liiva, who was replaced by German vocalist Angela Gossow in 2000. Gossow left the band in March 2014 to become the group's manager and was replaced by Canadian vocalist Alissa White-Gluz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carcass (band)</span> British extreme metal band

Carcass are an English extreme metal band from Liverpool, formed in 1985. The band have gone through several line-up changes, leaving guitarist Bill Steer and bassist-vocalist Jeff Walker as the only constant members. They broke up in 1996, but reformed in 2007 without one of their original members, drummer Ken Owen, due to health reasons. To date, the band have released seven studio albums, two compilation albums, four EPs, two demo albums, one video album, and six music videos.

<i>Doomsday Machine</i> (album) 2005 studio album by Arch Enemy

Doomsday Machine is the sixth studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, produced by Rickard Bengtsson and mixed by Andy Sneap. It is the third album to feature the vocals of Angela Gossow. The album had some commercial success, debuting at number 87 on the Billboard 200 with first week sales of 12,000 copies. It had sold 65,000 copies in the United States by April 2006. Christopher Amott left the band shortly after recording the album in July 2005 but rejoined 2 years later for the songwriting sessions for Rise of the Tyrant.

<i>Wages of Sin</i> 2001 studio album by Arch Enemy

Wages of Sin is the fourth studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. It is the first Arch Enemy album to feature the vocals of Angela Gossow, and being the first album to featured female vocalist. It is also the first album they use Standard-C tuning, which they still use today. It was released on 25 April 2001 in Japan, but the European and American releases were delayed to 18 March 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Amott</span> Swedish guitarist

Christopher Amott is a Swedish guitarist, younger brother of Michael Amott and founding member of the metal bands Arch Enemy and Armageddon. He is most recently the former guitarist for Dark Tranquillity.

<i>Rise of the Tyrant</i> 2007 studio album by Arch Enemy

Rise of the Tyrant is the seventh studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. It was produced by Fredrik Nordström and released on 24 September 2007 via Century Media.

<i>The Root of All Evil</i> (album) 2009 studio album of re-recorded songs by Arch Enemy

The Root of All Evil is a studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, featuring re-recorded songs from the first three albums by the band—Black Earth, Stigmata, and Burning Bridges. It was released on 28 September 2009 by Century Media Records and was made available as a jewel case CD, limited edition mediabook, digital media download and LP. The album was produced by the band themselves and mixed and mastered by Andy Sneap. All songs from this album are re-recordings, with the title track being another version of the instrumental Demoniality.

<i>Manifesto of Arch Enemy</i> 2009 compilation album by Arch Enemy

Manifesto of Arch Enemy is a compilation album by Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, featuring two songs from Wages of Sin, two from Anthems of Rebellion, two from Doomsday Machine, two from Rise of the Tyrant, and two from the live album Tyrants of the Rising Sun. It was released on 27 February 2009 on Century Media Records.

<i>Khaos Legions</i> 2011 studio album by Arch Enemy

Khaos Legions is the eighth studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. It was released on May 30, 2011, by Century Media. The record marks a return to new, original material, after releasing the Tyrants of the Rising Sun - Live in Japan live CD/DVD (2008) and The Root of All Evil (2009) which consisted of a selection of re-recorded songs from the band's back catalog. It is the band's ninth album counting the compilation.

<i>Thirteen</i> (Megadeth album) 2011 studio album by Megadeth

Thirteen is the thirteenth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth. It was first released in Japan on October 27, 2011, and worldwide on November 1, 2011. It is the first Megadeth studio album since The World Needs a Hero (2001) to feature bassist and founding member David Ellefson, who returned to the band in 2010. Thirteen debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 42,000 copies in its first week. The album broke into the top 20 in several other markets as well. It has sold about 120,000 copies in the United States as of December 2012. The album has received positive reviews from critics.

<i>Repentless</i> 2015 studio album by Slayer

Repentless is the twelfth and final studio album by American thrash metal band Slayer, released on September 11, 2015. This is the band's only album recorded without guitarist Jeff Hanneman, who died from liver cirrhosis in 2013 and was replaced by Gary Holt, and the first to feature drummer Paul Bostaph since God Hates Us All (2001). Repentless is also the only album the band released on Nuclear Blast and was produced by Terry Date, replacing Rick Rubin after twenty-nine years and nine studio albums as their producer or executive producer. The six-year gap between World Painted Blood (2009) and Repentless was the longest between two Slayer albums in their career, and it would be the band's last studio album before disbanding in 2019, following the conclusion of their final world tour.

<i>Dystopia</i> (Megadeth album) 2016 studio album by Megadeth

Dystopia is the fifteenth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth. It was released on frontman and guitarist Dave Mustaine's Tradecraft label via Universal on January 22, 2016. It is the first Megadeth album to feature guitarist Kiko Loureiro and their last album with bassist David Ellefson. The album was produced by Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw and features cover artwork by Brent Elliot White.

<i>Surgical Steel</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Carcass

Surgical Steel is the sixth full-length album by British extreme metal band Carcass. The album was released on 13 September 2013 in Europe, 16 September in the UK, and 17 September in North America, via Nuclear Blast. Surgical Steel is Carcass' first studio album since Swansong (1996), and their first to feature Dan Wilding as the replacement of original drummer Ken Owen, although the latter does provide backing vocals on the album. This was also the band's first album since Symphonies of Sickness (1989) to be recorded as a three-piece, and their first one to reach the Top 50 in UK album charts.

<i>War Eternal</i> 2014 studio album by Arch Enemy

War Eternal is the ninth studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, which was released first in Japan on 4 June 2014 by Century Media. It is the first Arch Enemy album in 15 years since Burning Bridges to feature a new line-up; Alissa White-Gluz took over on vocals after former long-time vocalist Angela Gossow stepped down from vocal duties to be the band's business manager. Additionally, ex-Arsis guitarist Nick Cordle replaced Christopher Amott in 2012. Cordle ultimately left the band just before their European tour and was replaced by former Nevermore guitarist Jeff Loomis.

<i>Will to Power</i> (Arch Enemy album) 2017 studio album by Arch Enemy

Will to Power is the tenth studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, released on 8 September 2017 via Century Media Records. This is the first album to feature guitarist Jeff Loomis who joined the band in November 2014. It is also the first Arch Enemy album to feature a song with clean singing as lead vocals; the song, "Reason to Believe", is referred to as "their first ever, largely clean-sung power ballad."

<i>Extreme Power Metal</i> 2019 studio album by DragonForce

Extreme Power Metal is the eighth studio album by British power metal band DragonForce, released on 27 September 2019. It is the band's last studio album to feature longtime bassist Frédéric Leclercq and the first not to feature longtime keyboardist Vadim Pruzhanov, who left the band in 2018; Epica keyboardist Coen Janssen recorded keyboards for the album as a one-off session member. The lead single "Highway to Oblivion" was released on 30 July 2019. The band embarked on a world tour in support of the album following its release. Music videos for "Troopers of the Stars" and "Strangers" were filmed, but not released until two years later, on 27 August 2021 and 25 October 2021, respectively. In 2022, the band continued touring the album after their last tour's cancelation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On 29 November 2022, the music video for "The Last Dragonborn" was released, being the first music video with new bassist Alicia Vigil.

<i>Manifest</i> (Amaranthe album) 2020 studio album by Amaranthe

Manifest is the sixth studio album by Swedish heavy metal band Amaranthe. It was released on 2 October 2020 via Nuclear Blast.

<i>The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead!</i> 2022 studio album by Megadeth

The Sick, the Dying... and the Dead! is the sixteenth studio album by American thrash metal band Megadeth, released on September 2, 2022, on frontman Dave Mustaine's Tradecraft label via Universal. It is the first Megadeth album to feature drummer Dirk Verbeuren, their last album with guitarist Kiko Loureiro, and their first studio album in six years since Dystopia (2016), marking the longest gap between two studio albums in the band's career. The album was produced by Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw.

<i>A View from the Top of the World</i> 2021 studio album by Dream Theater

A View from the Top of the World is the fifteenth studio album by American progressive metal band Dream Theater, released on October 22, 2021. This is their first album to be recorded at their own studio, DTHQ as well as their first since Black Clouds & Silver Linings (2009) to include fewer than nine tracks, the first since Dream Theater (2013) both to contain a track of at least ten minutes in length and to end with the longest track. A View from the Top of the World is also Dream Theater's last album to feature drummer Mike Mangini, who left the band in October 2023 upon the return of original drummer Mike Portnoy.

<i>Get Rollin</i> 2022 studio album by Nickelback

Get Rollin' is the tenth studio album by Canadian rock band Nickelback. The album was released on November 18, 2022. The album's lead single "San Quentin" was released on September 7, 2022, accompanied by an official lyric video. On May 12, 2023, Nickelback announced an expanded deluxe edition of the album will be released on June 3, 2023, with an alternate blue cover.

References

  1. "Arch Enemy Deceivers". Blabbermouth.net. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  2. "Album Review: Deceivers – Arch Enemy". Distorted Sound. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  3. "Album review: Arch Enemy – Deceivers". Kerrang!. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  4. "Arch Enemy's Deceivers: Melodeath Monarchs Deliver the Goods on 11th Album". Metal Hammer. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  5. "Album Review: Arch Enemy: Deceivers". metalinjection.com. Brooklyn, New York. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  6. "Album Review: Arch Enemy: Deceivers". Metal Storm. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  7. "Arch Enemy – Deceivers (album review)". Sonic Perspectives. 11 August 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  8. "Michael Amott Has 'A Few New Ideas Already For' Arch Enemy's Next Album". Blabbermouth.net . 23 October 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  9. "Jeff Loomis Is Working On Third Solo LP, New Arch Enemy Album". Blabbermouth.net. 9 February 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  10. "Jeff Loomis Tried to Get to Europe to Record With Arch Enemy But Couldn't". Loudwire. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  11. DiVita, Joe (21 October 2021). "Arch Enemy Debut Fierce New Song 'Deceiver, Deceiver'". Loudwire. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  12. Hartmann, Graham (9 December 2021). "Arch Enemy Release '80s Inspired Song 'House of Mirrors'". Loudwire. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  13. "Arch Enemy Announces New Album 'Deceivers'; with Album's First Single 'Handshake With Hell' Arriving Next Week". Sonic Perspectives. 27 January 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  14. DiVita, Joe (4 February 2022). "Arch Enemy Introduce Clean Singing on New 'Handshake With Hell' Song". Loudwire. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  15. Blabbermouth (20 May 2022). "Arch Enemy Releases New Single 'Sunset Over The Empire'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  16. Blabbermouth (14 July 2022). "Arch Enemy Releases New Single 'In The Eye Of The Storm'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  17. "Australiancharts.com – Arch Enemy – Deceivers". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  18. "Austriancharts.at – Arch Enemy – Deceivers" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  19. "Ultratop.be – Arch Enemy – Deceivers" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  20. "Ultratop.be – Arch Enemy – Deceivers" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  21. "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 33.Týden 2022 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  22. "Dutchcharts.nl – Arch Enemy – Deceivers" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  23. "Arch Enemy: Deceivers" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  24. "Lescharts.com – Arch Enemy – Deceivers". Hung Medien. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  25. "Offiziellecharts.de – Arch Enemy – Deceivers" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  26. "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2022. 36. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  27. "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 35 (dal 26.08.2022 al 01.09.2022)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  28. "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2022-08-22/p/2" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  29. "Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of August 17, 2022". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  30. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  31. "Portuguesecharts.com – Arch Enemy – Deceivers". Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  32. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
  33. "Top 100 Albums Weekly". Promusicae . Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  34. "Swedishcharts.com – Arch Enemy – Deceivers". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  35. "Swisscharts.com – Arch Enemy – Deceivers". Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  36. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 August 2022.
  37. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 August 2022.