Arch Enemy

"I don't know what it is
about European bands that are doing so well," confesses Arch Enemy's guitarist Michael Amott, "it's a really strange thing. But then, on the other hand, I don't think it's about European bands per se, I think it's more about the genre they're in. I get asked about this a lot and I just have no idea what to say - it comes down to a country like Sweden having a bunch of bands that are really successful internationally in this one area [heavy metal] more than any other."

Amott and co. may call Sweden 'home', however, when it comes to touring, the guitarist explains that nothing feels weirder for the band than playing there.

"For us it's so strange to play where we come from. I think it's because we are always on the other side of the world, like, we're always in Japan or usually we're in the United States more than anywhere else in the world. So it's extremely weird to come home and play to the Swedish crowds because we're away so much. But there's nothing like it - we have a whole bunch of dates lined up for Sweden in November. It's become really exotic for us," Amott laughs.

Currently, the band are touring the American leg of the Gigantour - alongside other heavyweights such as Megadeth and Opeth, jus to name a couple - and which, according to Amott, has been going incredibly well for Arch Enemy.

"We've been doing this for about a month now...It's been great, the shows have been amazing and there's just such a great vibe. Angela [Gossow, vocals] tends to get a very strong reaction from some people who are not that familiar with the band," Amott laughs, "I mean, you just see their jaws dropping, going, 'what the hell is this?' So it's always good. Our old singer was never really that much into touring, he was and still is a good friend of the band, but the lifestyle didn't suit him. We get asked about the old frontman quite a bit, I think people expect you to say that there was bad blood or something, but it's not like that. I mean, there's no controversy. It's just that to do what we do requires being away from home a lot and that wasn't his thing, he is quite happy at home, whereas we are more comfortable on the tour bus - that's how twisted we are!"

In fact, as Amott explains, Arch Enemy have become so used to being out on the road that when they do get the chance to come home and relax, they don't know how to do it.

"It's unbelievable being on tour, so when you get home you don't know how to sit still and not have to perform or be involved with music in some way."

Which would explain the fact that the band have already been busy gathering material for their next album, only a year after their last offering, 'Doomsday Machine'.

"The music is the only thing that keeps us going, I guess. The new material sounds very fresh and it sounds quite a bit different to our last stuff, but still totally Arch Enemy. We aim to keep raising the bar each time. For me, I can't believe that I get to be playing with musicians of this calibre. We're going on ten years being in this band together," Amott says, pausing, "...which means that basically we're a classic rock band now! We're so lucky we're still together, we're still excited about writing new songs and touring just like we were at the beginning. You can't complain about anything because I know so many people who would love to have a crack at what I'm doing and I feel kind of blessed. There's something very gratifying about playing in a band and the reaction you get when you're performing. That's still with us, for sure."

Of the upcoming Australian leg of the Gigantour, Amott says, "It's going to be great. I remember the last time we were there, it was the place we went to and that everybody in the band loved. Everybody has their favourites usually, but we all found ourselves agreeing that we liked Australia a lot. This will be the second time for us and we can't believe that we get to go back again!"

Nina Bertok

dB Magazine proudly presents Arch Enemy at Fowler's Live on Thurs 19 October. Doomsday Machine' is out now through Century Media.