Deceivers (album) explained

Deceivers
Type:studio
Artist:Arch Enemy
Cover:Deceivers (Arch Enemy album).jpg
Studio:Hansen Studios
Genre:Melodic death metal,Thrash Metal,Heavy Metal,Symphonic Metal,Instrumental Music
Length:45:09
Label:Century Media
Producer:Jacob Hansen
Prev Title:Will to Power
Prev Year:2017

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.

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".[1] 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.[2]

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".[3]

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[4] and 9 December 2021,[5] 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;[6] the third single "Handshake with Hell" was released eight days later on 4 February 2022, along with its accompanying music video.[7]

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.[8]

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.[9]

"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.

Personnel

Arch Enemy

Additional musician

Technical personnel

Charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Italian Albums (FIMI)[10] 85
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[11] 14

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2018-10-23 . Michael Amott Has 'A Few New Ideas Already For' Arch Enemy's Next Album . 2022-07-31 . . en.
  2. Web site: 2021-02-09 . Jeff Loomis Is Working On Third Solo LP, New Arch Enemy Album . 2022-07-31 . Blabbermouth.net . en.
  3. Web site: Jeff Loomis Tried to Get to Europe to Record With Arch Enemy But Couldn't . 2022-07-31 . Loudwire . 6 June 2022 . en.
  4. Web site: DiVita . Joe. Arch Enemy Debut Fierce New Song 'Deceiver, Deceiver' . 2022-07-31 . Loudwire . 21 October 2021 . en.
  5. Web site: Hartmann . Graham. Arch Enemy Release '80s Inspired Song 'House of Mirrors' . 2022-07-31 . Loudwire . 9 December 2021 . en.
  6. Web site: 2022-01-27 . Arch Enemy Announces New Album 'Deceivers'; with Album's First Single 'Handshake With Hell' Arriving Next Week . 2022-07-31 . Sonic Perspectives . en-US.
  7. Web site: DiVita . Joe. Arch Enemy Introduce Clean Singing on New 'Handshake With Hell' Song . 2022-07-31 . Loudwire . 4 February 2022 . en.
  8. Web site: Blabbermouth . 2022-05-20 . Arch Enemy Releases New Single 'Sunset Over The Empire' . 2022-07-31 . Blabbermouth.net . en.
  9. Web site: Blabbermouth . 2022-07-14 . Arch Enemy Releases New Single 'In The Eye Of The Storm' . 2022-07-31 . Blabbermouth.net . en.
  10. Web site: Album – Classifica settimanale WK 35 (dal 26.08.2022 al 01.09.2022). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. it. 3 September 2022.
  11. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of August 17, 2022. Billboard Japan. ja. 17 August 2022.