'Doomsday' for Arch Enemy

Long ago when I first heard Arch Enemy's Burning Bridges, I realized I had found melodic death metal gold. Every song was killer, no filler bullshit, just pure metallic greatness. The previous two albums, Black Earth and Stigmata, were just as impressive as was Burning Japan Live 1999. But, before you could throw those horns in the air, vocalist Johan Liiva quit the band and was soon replaced by relatively unknown Angela Gossow. And thus the downward spiral began with Wages of Sin into the prior effort Anthems of Rebellion and finally hitting rock bottom with the latest release, Doomsday Machine.\nDoomsday, much like Anthems, lacks any real sort of musical progression, instead finding comfort in repetitive riffs and a regressing style. The album opens with the mediocre instrumental "Enter the Machine" before going into what is easily the best song, "Taking Back My Soul." Powerful riffs courtesy of the Amott brothers and the signature double-bass rolls of Daniel Erlandson make the track memorable, which is unfortunate since from this point on the songs get worse.\n"Nemesis" is a speedy thrash mess, practically a reprise of "We Will Rise" off Anthems. Maybe it'll get the mosh pits moving at this year's Ozzfest, but the only movement it gets from me is pressing the next track button.\n"My Apocalypse" meanders back and forth while "Carry the Cross" sounds like at least half of the Wages of Sin album -- the boring half. The half-instrumental/half-blastfest "I Am Legend/Out for Blood" is actually worth the listen, if only to hear Arch Enemy utilizing blastbeats and an incredible melodically ascending solo. \n"Machtkampf" would probably be classified as the album's second best song, since it actually sounds like Arch Enemy are trying their best on the track but it goes to spoils with album closer "Slaves of Yesterday" -- yet another study in boredom.\nBut the absolute worst part of the album? Vocalist Gossow's increasingly atonal vocal stylings. Anyone can scream their heart out in front of the microphone, but what she is lacking is former singer Liiva's attitude that went into his voice.\nThe CD comes with enhanced content such as buddy icons and screensavers; it even comes with a poster! I'd hang it on my wall if I actually enjoyed looking at disappointment captured in a photograph. Luckily I'll always have Arch Enemy's first four CDs to revisit, while Doomsday Machine sadly collects dust.