Arch Enemy is a Swedish melodic death metal band, formed in 1995 by Michael Amott.
Arch Enemy, the brainchild of Michael Amott (ex-Carcass, Carnage and Spiritual Beggars) was originally assembled from the ashes of legendary British death metal/goregrind band Carcass. Guitarists Michael Amott and younger brother Christopher Amott were joined by vocalist Johan Liiva (ex-Carnage) and then-session drummer Daniel Erlandsson (Armageddon, Eucharist) in what Michael Amott called "An attempt to merge melody with aggression and technicality."
The band's debut, entitled Black Earth was released by the now defunct Wrong Again Records in 1996. It obtained a fair amount of success in Japan, achieving MTV rotation with their first single "Bury Me An Angel", as well as moderate success in Sweden. More of a "solo effort" than a full band at this point, Michael Amott wrote all the songs himself, and even played bass guitar on the album - contrary to the album's liner notes, which listed vocalist Johan Liiva as handling bass duties. Michael Amott later revealed that he had...more
