<< Interviews this month
file under death metal / grindcore
This is the third time in about eighteen that I’m interviewing Arch Enemy. The first reason, of course, was the release of ‘Anthems Of Rebellion’ during the summer of 2003 when Chris Ammot and Angela Gossow were still fresh and full of expectations firing their story. A couple of months later it was Michael Ammot who looked back at things during the European headline tour. Right now, just before the start of another American tour and a new EP in stores, we meet again. This time around it Angela Gossow who reflects on the past eighteen months.
Text: Ralph
 It has been a while since we talked so how are you after eighteen months of touring basically?
We all grew older and gained weight, hahahahahah. Not me, I have been in the gym. We had a good time really, being on the road.
A lot have happened to the band the past period of time. If you had to pick an absolute highlight, what would that be?
The festivals I think. The Download and Wacken were absolutely great. We had great weather as well so I actually got some sun in the summer, hahahaha. We met lots of friends that we usually only see backstage on festivals, so we hung out together and that was so much fun
What was the worst?
I went to India for four weeks and that was really hard. I was by myself and it was something I really wanted. I really have a different outlook on my life now. I have a very luxurious live and I am very lucky compared to other people. I have seen the worst like leper and such poor and sick people. It doesn’t have to do with Arch Enemy, hahaha. We only had good things with Arch Enemy, but this trip really opened my eyes.
How do you feel about the fact that there was so much attention for you being ill, while touring?
You know, people like to gossip about things. I don’t really care anymore otherwise you go nuts, I learned that in Arch Enemy. You question things every day anyway, and listen to people questioning you as well is too much. Most of the rumours were not even true of me being sick.
And than the whole Machine Head thing, that was kind of nasty…
I was surprised to see how unprofessionally Machine Head handled the incident. It was not me who actually stopped the tour, but another person who had a big problem in the band, and they obviously didn’t have enough respect to let it go and say they were sorry. We were sorry and said so, it was very shitty for both bands. They lost some people coming to the shows and it sucked for us because we lost a hell lot of money, we had to pay for the tour bus that whole tour, you know. At the end of the day it is a business and you might meet that band you are talking shit about again. It always comes back to you. Rob Flynn actually lost his voice later that tour, hahaha. I was disappointed really, but I do not have hard feelings in any way towards Machine Head.
And here we are, on the verge of yet another American tour. Are you still fired up after touring this much playing the same songs over and over again?
That is a good question! That is why we are writing new stuff, hahahaha. As soon as you go on stage it is so much fun to play older shit and see people celebrate that. Look at Slayer, they have to play ‘Raining Blood’ over and over again and they still love it. That is the same for us.
What makes you decide to do another tour, rather then having a well deserved holiday or work on new material? Is that a band decision?
Two sides really. We have our management telling us it would be good to go out there now and shove our ass into others peoples face again, hahaha. It is good because media is picking up, we had a break right now and are easily bored being at home and we like touring America. Obviously this is a good offer as well, we don’t lose money and that is good. So it is a combination of things; it gets us back in the media, we don’t lose money and we get to shop! Hahahaha.
What a feminine kind of thing to say…
Hahahaha, no I actually mean shopping in CD shops! The dollar is so low right now and CD’s are so cheap over there anyway so that is fantastic. We are all true music lovers.
Does it feel like living in a rush travelling the globe for such a period of time?
Yes. I developed a nervous heart condition lately. It is the worst when travelling to Japan. You have this huge time shift then and you travel for twenty-four hours. I have a high level of stress when I am travelling and I cannot sleep on planes or busses, so it affects my body I think.
What is the biggest difference for you personally when you compare this ‘after release period’ with the one that followed the release of ‘Wages Of Sin’?
We are more self-confident and it is more fun. After ‘Wages Of Sin’ I constantly thought; ‘I hope I am not ruining the band!’ There were lots of things I had to do for the first time in my life you know. Right now I know the drill and it is actually more fun. I am used to it by now. India helped me a lot as well, because in India I have been living under worse conditions then on the road, hahahahah. When I am on a tour bus right now I always think that it is kind of luxurious!
 Did this, the success, come unexpectedly or did you have some signs it would grow into this massive world coverage?
No, this was unexpected. I think, when you are in a metal band you don’t think in terms of success anyway. It is the fun that is important. Who can actually make a living out of travelling the world? Only a few bands make it that big, but most of the bands I know or people who play in them work a normal day job as well. We just take it step by step. Now we sold some more records and hopefully the next one will sell some more and tour bigger places. If you are planning on success you should play fucking rap, hahahahah.
This new EP sounds killer. You guys and Andy did a great job on the live thing. Is it a planned release or is this to please your fans because another full length might take some time after all?
Exactly, the last thing you mention. This was not planned. It is some kind of tradition to put an EP every time you do a tour in Japan under a certain theme. People can buy it at the show and so on. People started to import these things from Japan, which is very costly. Century Media approached us and said obviously the people want that so why not release it over here? So that is what we did.
You recorded some covers, how did you get to choose those? I suppose you battled over which covers to record, or not?
No, not at all. We had only three days in the studio for everything. We basically took what we really can play hahaha and sounds good when Arch Enemy plays it. These are the songs we could nail in that short period of time.
How are things anyway when it comes to recording new stuff. Michael told me some months ago it was realistic you may record early next year, but you did not know back then what you know now, so how is that?
Exactly, that is still the game plan! We are putting pressure on ourselves as well by saying this. We have six or seven songs ready and are planning on demo’s in January or February. The actual recordings should start in March. Hopefully it will be out before the summer.
In which direction does these new tracks go?
At the moment it is very complex stuff. It is typical Arch Enemy but very much the ‘nobody else can play riff’ stuff, hahahaha. It is going to be a bit more like ‘Wages Of Sin’ with lots of melody and more complex. We are not going for the mainstream thing, which people think we are. It is going to be more extreme and brutal. This new stuff has blast beats all over the place! I have some lyrics ready but we will really know what it sounds like when we demo the things in January.
So, now the tour, after that some rest and then start working on the new album.
Wohoho! Christmas is not rest! Hahahaha. I have to visit my family, having to eat all the cookies and work it of in the gym again. So Christmas and New Years Eve being regretful of what we have been eating hahahaha, then go into the rehearsal room!
http://www.archenemy.net
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