ARCH ENEMY - Blood Dynasty Digi-CD

Though it would be a stretch to qualify Bloody Dynasty and the riveting anthems that preceded its release as promotional singles as throwbacks to Arch Enemy’s pre-2003 era; the temptation to consider them as such is understandable given that they stand on a similar qualitative footing. It is very much a modern opus that would more readily be compared to the most recent outings of Amon Amarth and Soilwork than the archaic splendor that typified albums like Black Earth, Stigmata or even Wages Of Sin. Those that come to it expecting something along the lines of where melodeath was in the late 90s will undoubtedly not find it, but are assured to come away with the same sense of fulfillment that comes with hearing a classic metal album from any era. As the old saying goes, one can never step on the same river twice, yet when stepping into the rapids that Arch Enemy plays in, this is about as close to the waterfall as it gets.