Black Earth (Arch Enemy album)

Black Earth is the debut album by the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. The album was reissued on April 24, 2007 on Regain Records, featuring "Losing Faith", two Iron Maiden covers and the video for "Bury Me an Angel".^[1]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[2]

Black Earth was critically well received. Anders Sandvall of Metal Rules stated that "the album is brilliant and there are no bad songs on it."^[3] Allmusic's critic Alex Henderson wrote in his review that "Black Earth was a promising debut for Arch Enemy and is among the Swedish combo's more consistent and memorable efforts."^[2] Ron Salden of Archaic Magazine said that Black Earth is a classic and praised the songs writing they "showcase a fresh mixture of death/thrash metal whilst the Amott brothers rip their guitars exquisitely to delightful bits of melody, harmony lines, guitar licks and solos." He praised "Bury Me an Angel" and comments that the songs "Eureka", "Transmigration Macabre" and "Fields of Desolation" still sounds fresh in these days.^[4] Chad Bowar of About.com said that the album sound "was raw, but the songs still were very catchy with solid guitar work from Michael and Christopher Amott".^[5] About the songs, Metal Review's journalist Jason Jordan states: ""Dark Insanity" is arguably the best of the lot due to its fantastic riffs and leads, which Erlandsson backs up with a pummeling, and at times appropriately restrained, performance." He also comments that some songs like "Idolatress", "Cosmic Retribution", "Transmigration Macabre" and "Fields of Desolation" have praiseworthy characteristics too, though none quite match the verve of the openers. Jordan praised mainly the band members writing that "Black Earth is a solid outing of melodic death metal with each member in fine form" and that "the brothers Amott turn in excellent performances as the band's guitarists, Daniel Erlandsson provides backbone support from atop the throne, and Johan Liiva contributes his unique vocals to one of the better Arch Enemy efforts."^[6]

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
1.	"Bury Me an Angel"	Michael Amott	M. Amott	3:40
2.	"Dark Insanity"	Johan Liiva	Liiva, M. Amott	3:16
3.	"Eureka"	M. Amott	Christopher Amott, M. Amott	4:44
4.	"Idolatress"	Liiva	Liiva, M. Amott	4:56
5.	"Cosmic Retribution"	M. Amott	M. Amott	4:00
6.	"Demoniality"	Instrumental	M. Amott	1:19
7.	"Transmigration Macabre"	M. Amott	M. Amott	4:09
8.	"Time Capsule"	Instrumental	C. Amott	1:09
9.	"Fields of Desolation"	Liiva	C. Amott, M. Amott	5:31

Reissue
No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Length
10.	"Losing Faith"	Liiva	C. Amott, Daniel Erlandsson, M. Amott	3:16
11.	"The Ides of March"	Instrumental	Steve Harris	1:46
12.	"Aces High"	Harris	Harris	4:23

"The Ides of March" and "Aces High" are covers of Iron Maiden songs, from Killers and Powerslave respectively.

"Losing Faith" and "The Ides of March" are bonus tracks on the re-issue by Century Media, and Regain; the Regain edition also has "Aces High".

Personnel

Personnel credits adapted from Black Earth album liner notes.^[7]

Arch Enemy

Johan Liiva – Vocals, Bass
Michael Amott – Guitars, Co-producer, Mixing, Design
Christopher Amott – Guitars
Daniel Erlandsson – Drums

Production

Fredrik Nordström – producer, engineer, mixing, keyboards
Wez Wenedikter – executive producer, design
Baskim Zuta – assistant engineer
Miran Kim – cover art
Kenneth Johansson – band photography
Urszula Striner – model photography
Sara Grundquist – model
Johanna Lindskough – make-up artist
M&A Music Art – layout

References

↑ "Arch Enemy: Black Earth to be reissued". Blabbermouth.net. March 16, 2007. Archived from the original on March 24, 2007. Retrieved July 4, 2009.
1 2 {{cite web |url="Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-08-21. Retrieved 2011-08-21. |title=Review: Arch Enemy - Black Earth |last=Henderson |first=Alex |work=Allmusic |publisher=All Media Guide |deadurl=no |accessdate=January 5, 2017
↑ Sandvall, Anders (June 2002). "Arch Enemy - Black Earth". Metal Rules. Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
↑ Salden, Ron (September 20, 2005). "Arch Enemy - Black Earth". Archaic Magazine. Archived from the original on August 21, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
↑ Bowar, Chad. "Arch Enemy - Black Earth". About.com. The New York Times Company. Archived from the original on August 21, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
↑ Jordan, Jason (May 29, 2007). "Arch Enemy - Black Earth". Metal Review. Archived from the original on August 21, 2011. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
↑ Black Earth (Media notes). Arch Enemy. W.A.R. 1996.

External links

Black Earth at Encyclopaedia Metallum
Black Earth at Discogs

Arch Enemy
Alissa White-Gluz Michael Amott Daniel Erlandsson Sharlee D'Angelo Jeff Loomis Angela Gossow Christopher Amott Johan Liiva Martin Bengtsson Peter Wildoer Fredrik Åkesson Nick Cordle
Studio albums	Black Earth Stigmata Burning Bridges Wages of Sin Anthems of Rebellion Doomsday Machine Rise of the Tyrant Khaos Legions War Eternal Will to Power
Live releases	Burning Japan Live 1999 Live Apocalypse Tyrants of the Rising Sun As the Stages Burn!
Extended plays	Burning Angel Dead Eyes See No Future Revolution Begins
Video albums	Live Apocalypse Tyrants of the Rising Sun
Compilation albums	Manifesto of Arch Enemy The Root of All Evil
Related articles	Discography Songs Armageddon Carcass Carnage Opeth Spiritual Beggars The Night Flight Orchestra Nevermore The Agonist

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