Recording live albums/DVD's in Japan has always been a popular choice among Metal bands stretching all the way back to Judas Priest's 1979 release Unleashed In East.
Arch Enemy are the latest in a long line of bands to head to the Far East to play in front of a fanatical following. The gig takes place at the Studio Coast venue in Japan's capital city Tokyo. And by the looks of things it was a rather excellent show.
Arch Enemy are a band that while having their ups and downs on record, always make for exciting viewing live. Last time I saw the band in 2007 I wasn't too energized about it as I had seen them a couple of times in the previous year. Within a few songs my cynicism had been swept to the side as they took the venue by storm.
Sure, they are a very slick prospect with every lick, solo, headbang and scream timed to perfection but that's not always a bad thing. This release proves that an evening spent with Arch Enemy is never an evening wasted.
An air raid siren announces the bands arrival on stage as they kick off proceedings with
Blood On Your Hands. Immediately it becomes clear that Century Media made sure the bands performance was captured perfectly as the sound and picture quality is immaculate. Watching this release on a widescreen TV with the surround sound cranked up is sure to entertain and almost certainly going to annoy the hell out of the neighbours.
The Japanese audience seem more than up for it as from the word go. Every single fist seems to be pumping the air at almost every opportunity. And despite what you may have heard about the audiences in Japan being quiet and reserved they sing along with every word and quite a few of the guitar leads. There are even a few moments were some mosh pits break out. Eagle eyed viewers should keep a look out for the top quality hardcore dancing by a couple of guys in the pit during
Nemesis, its funny stuff.
The band themselves are all on fine form. The brothers Amott's lead work is a joy to behold as solo's fly from their fingers with lighting speed, it's always gratifying to watch a couple of guitarist's who share a great understanding of each others playing.
Arch Enemy are also in possession of a tight as hell rhythm section. Baby-faced Daniel Erlandsson is a top quality drummer and Sharlee D'Angelo's bass lines are understated but fill out the gaps in the music flawlessly (check out the driving bass in newer track
The Day You Died). Plus you don't get to have a CV that includes playing in Merciful Fate if you are a sloppy musician do you?
Angela Gossow's vocals sound pretty much perfect but I have no doubt that they have been touched up in the studio somewhat as every time I have seen the band live she has always fluffed a scream or growl here and there. Also at some points it sounds like her vocals are covered in a ton of effects to give them a fiercer edge.
Not that I want to get too down on her as she has certainly honed her stage craft and can control the crowd with ease. She also knows exactly how to whip the throng into a frenzy at all the right moments.
The band's intensity on stage certainly can't be called into question as they rip through a seventeen song set culled mostly from Wages Of Sin onwards. The only time the band dip into the John Liiva fronted period are for a fantastic run through
Silverwing and when they tack some of
Fields of Desolation from their very first release onto closing track
We Will Rise as an instrumental.
I would have quite liked to hear
Bury Me An Angel from Black Earth but I guess you can't have everything. Still the band pick pretty much all the Gossow era songs that you want to hear including my personal favourites
Ravenous,
Burning Angel and
Dead Eyes See No Future.
Both Michael and Chris get solo spots, Chris's is the more straightforward shred while Michael goes for the slightly less expected wind-swept hillside above a raging sea type solo that wouldn't be out of place in a epic classic rock track.
Daniel too gets his chance to shine with a short drum solo. The first part features the inclusion of some odd electric pads which made me think someone was going to dive on stage and scream "MORTAL KOMBAT!"
Alas this doesn't happen but the solo continues in the more traditional drumming to a backing track vein. This solo then leads straight into a first rate rendition of
Burning Angel. The first part of the show is ended with a track of the latest album Rise Of The Tyrant called
Vultures. They then appear back on stage for a five song encore which is rounded off in style with
Nemesis and
We Will Rise.
The DVD also includes a documentary entitled
The Road To Japan. It basically consists of the band talking about how much they enjoy playing and visiting Japan and a few Japanese journalists talking about how Arch Enemy mean to them. This is coupled with footage of the band wandering round Japan signing autographs.
It's a diverting enough watch first time round although you will find yourself glancing at the clock on a few occasions. And like most DVD extras it holds little or no re-watchable value.
There are also a couple of videos for tracks from Rise Of The Tyrant, neither of which are particularly interesting.
So after me talking about how the DVD was so enjoyable, why the lower than expected rating? Well this release comes only a couple of years and one album after their last DVD Live Apocalypse. So unless you are a massive fan of the bands newest work or haven't already bought a copy of their last DVD then there is not a huge incentive to buy this one.
In saying that if you are a fan of the band and decide to purchase this DVD then I doubt you will walk away disappointed.
Rating: 7/10Written by
Stuart Monday, January 12, 2009
