Arch Enemy
Wages Of Sin

THE REVIEW

Hello everyone! Here I am making my debut on DeBaser.it… what can I say, I'm a bit nervous, so I'll immediately break the ice and today I'll talk to you about Wages of Sin by Arch Enemy, an album that, for better or worse (depending on your point of view), has marked the career of the Amott brothers' band for various reasons: a) The change of vocalist: replacing Johan Liiva is Angela Gossow, who has a more aggressive tone but also more monotonous compared to her predecessor. b) The move towards “streamlining” and a partial elimination of those brilliant ideas that made the band's first 3 albums unmissable.
Regarding Angela Gossow, I find her performance more than convincing (even though it won't be repeated in the subsequent albums) as her great aggressiveness, in my opinion, manages to not make you miss her predecessor. As for the “streamlining,” it is true that the brilliant ideas from the first three albums are missing, but the songs have gained impact and dynamism, resulting in tracks that are devastating and able to get into your head to never leave.”

The album opens with "Enemy Within": a piano intro explodes into a very engaging up tempo with a good leading riff: really good as a start. It continues with "Burning Angel," and here the album's ratings rise significantly: an excellent song based on an absolutely spectacular riff, an engaging rhythm section, and a great solo (in this area, the Amott brothers have spoiled us too much), really excellent piece and, in my opinion, one of the peaks of the album.
We arrive at "Savage Messiah": a sinister mid-tempo that manages to convey evil, equipped with a truly remarkable central break… another peak of the album. The album unfolds with some interesting pieces and others a bit less, until reaching another masterpiece: "Behind The Smile," excellent melody (the sense of evil released here is also remarkable) followed by the moving "Snow Bound": a touching instrumental piece where the Amott brothers showcase all their skill and melodic sense, truly memorable.”

What to say about this album? Definitely a good album, although it doesn't maintain high quality throughout its duration and this will certainly lower the score, which could have been higher.
For Arch Enemy fans (and extreme metal fans in general), an album to have; for others, I recommend a listen, you might really like it a lot.
P.S. The production is excellent, entrusted to Andy Sneap who gives power to everything