My plan for St. Patrick’s Day today was to make it only an enjoyable and non-stressed filled time here at the PiercingMetal Command HQ since some rest was surely needed after a busy concert going weekend. The goal was to have the largest working of my time be focused on finding a big, tasty platter of Corned Beef and Cabbage and catch up on the Netflix. Then the press release from those find folks at Century Media Records hit the mailbox and all of the Internet Metal Journalists were set into high speed content creation mode. I’ve copied portions of the press copy for you to see and will add my own views to the mix at the closing. Be aware that this is ground breaking stuff here as if the title didn’t clue you in just a little bit.

In early June 2014, ARCH ENEMY will unleash their 9th studio album, War Eternal, worldwide via Century Media Records and Trooper Entertainment in Japan. With this upcoming release, the band will introduce a new member to their ranks: Alissa White-Gluz, former vocalist of Canadian extreme metallers THE AGONIST. Angela Gossow, who joined ARCH ENEMY in 2000 and made her debut on the now classic Wages Of Sin (2001), will be stepping down as front-woman and focusing on management, while Alissa takes her place.

Angela Gossow comments:

“Dear ARCH ENEMY fans, this is not easy to tell you…I have decided to step down from being ARCH ENEMY’s voice of anger. After 13 years of pure fucking metal, 6 studio albums and countless tours through five continents, I feel the need to enter a different phase in my life, be with my family and pursue other interests. I will however remain business manager for ARCH ENEMY, and I will continue to develop my artist management roster. I am staying true to my heavy metal roots, just leaving the spotlight so to speak. I am passing the torch to the super talented Alissa White-Gluz, whom I’ve known as a dear friend and a superb vocalist for many years. I always thought she deserved a chance to shine – and now she’s getting it. Just like I got that chance back in 2001. I want to thank all ARCH ENEMY fans, our labels Century Media (worldwide) and Trooper Entertainment (Japan), our dedicated road crew, and in particular Michael, Daniel and Sharlee for their love and support throughout all these years. It’s been one hell of a ride! We conquered every situation, made it through thick & thin together in the most exciting and rewarding time of my life. Thank you all for being there with me on stage, in front of the stage, and backstage. You have touched my heart, and I hope I was able to give something back to you. I am grateful for the wonderful memories – I will cherish them forever! I am looking forward to the next decade of ARCH ENEMY madness! Right now I am listening through rough mixes of the new studio album and I am blown away! 2014 will see a renewed ARCH ENEMY at the top of their game. I am proud to be part of this ARCH ENEMY chapter, albeit in a different way – revving up the engines behind the scenes. I hope to see you in front of the stage; I will join you there this time. Let the killing begin, once again!”

Alissa White-Gluz comments:

“I am very honored and happy to announce a new chapter in my life and musical career beginning now; I have joined forces with one of my all-time favorite and globally respected bands, ARCH ENEMY. ‘Wages of Sin’ was the first metal album I ever bought, and it was love at first listen. It is not often that you get a phone call from your favorite band asking you to join! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such amazingly talented musicians whom I also consider great friends. I look forward to being able to write and perform at a whole new level now with ARCH ENEMY! Music is forever, metal is limitless and this is only the beginning!”

Chief song-writer/band leader Michael Amott, who founded ARCH ENEMY in 1995, comments:

“We are eternally grateful to Angela for all her passion, hard work and talent. Her legacy is tremendous and will always be a big part of the band’s history. We feel great pride in what has been achieved in the past, but also look forward to new battles and new victories. We welcome Alissa with open arms – and we hope you will have open ears. We might have just created our most wicked metal opus yet with our upcoming album ‘War Eternal’!”

PiercingMetal Says: I’ve been following Arch Enemy since Angela joined the lineup and just like Ms. White-Gluz I too first heard them with the “Wages Of Sin” album and I will also admit that I had never listened to them before that time. That said I loved what Angela brought to the table in this band and was considerably entertained by them in concert. Overall I think I have caught them about five times over the years and never felt dissatisfied with the way she handled the role. Finding her moving on from that task and into the bands managerial direction side does strike me as a little weird but it will allow her to time that she seems to crave. Now let’s talk about the amazing Alissa White-Gluz, formerly of The Agonist. I’ve followed Alissa’s work with this band since 2007 and she always floors me with her passion for Metal and skills as a vocalist. I’ve seen The Agonist even more times than Arch Enemy and most recently caught her as a guest star on the Kamelot tour. She kicks some ass and I think the material of Arch Enemy is in good hands. Having also met her on numerous occasions I can say that she is all about her fans so let’s see if she wins over the Arch Enemy Armies. Closing up I wish Angela Gossow the best of luck in her new role and Alissa White-Gluz in hers. I look forward to seeing how this plays out on the stage for sure. What do you readers think of the whole situation? I’ve left the comments open for you to chime in with your own thoughts.

Official Website: http://www.archenemy.net

Check out Angela’s past work with Arch Enemy via the links below and get set for the bands new exciting chapter with Alissa at the helm.

PS: All the photos you see were taken by Ken Pierce (me) for use in some PiercingMetal Concert pieces over the years.