CoC : Arch Enemy - Burning Japan Live : Review

Arch Enemy - _Burning Japan Live_
(Century Media, 2000)
by: Paul Schwarz (8.5 out of 10)

A Japan-only release, this forty-eight minute live album, recorded at a single show, has a clear yet characteristic sound which places it in the rare category of being a live album well worth owning. The musical elements have a live-sounding rawness while retaining the subtleties which are such essential parts of Arch Enemy's masterful mixture of pure riff and metal melodies. Furthermore, Johan Liiva's vocal delivery is both powerful and expressive -- and similarly well-balanced and accentuated by the top-notch production. The set list focuses on Arch Enemy's last two releases, _Stigmata_ [CoC #32] and _Burning Bridges_ [CoC #41], with "Dark Insanity" and "Transmigration Macabre" from 1996's _Black Earth_ and "Diva Satanica" (_Burning Bridges_'s Japanese bonus track) being the three exceptions out of the eleven songs on offer here. The crowd are enthusiastically loud though their fanatical support is thankfully quite unintrusive to the enjoyment of the record. However, though good, _BJL_ does not seem worth shelling out extortionate import prices for, sight-unseen: I'd suggest trying to track it down by some other less costly method before you lay out large sums for a full, proper copy.

(article published 10/1/2001)

CHATS
3/30/2009	P Williams	Arch Enemy: Die Walküre
11/23/2003	J Smit	Arch Enemy: The Rebellion Is Rising
9/1/2002	P Schwarz	Arch Enemy: Receiving Payment For Crimes Against God
7/7/1999	P Schwarz	Arch Enemy: Arched Bridges Beware
9/1/1998	A Bromley	Arch Enemy: Unearthing the Demons Within

ALBUMS
11/21/2007	J Ulrey	7.5	Arch Enemy - Rise of the Tyrant
10/17/2005	J Smit	8	Arch Enemy - Doomsday Machine
11/29/2004	J Smit	5	Arch Enemy - Dead Eyes See No Future
8/22/2003	J Smit	8.5	Arch Enemy - Anthems of Rebellion
10/19/2001	C Flaaten	8.5	Arch Enemy - Wages of Sin
7/7/1999	P Schwarz	9.5	Arch Enemy - Burning Bridges
7/8/1998	P Schwarz	8.5	Arch Enemy - Stigmata

GIGS
5/8/2009	P Williams	Motorhead / Arch Enemy / Opeth / Chimaira / August Burns Red / Nervecell / Hatred / Scarab	Dubai Desert Rock Festival 2009
6/11/2008	A Lineker	Opeth / Arch Enemy / Devildriver / 3 Inches of Blood	Before the Watershed
2/16/2004	A Lineker	Arch Enemy / Akercocke	Sad Eyes Question Future.
10/13/2003	P Schwarz	Arch Enemy / Nevermore	I'm Dreaming of a Neon Black Earth...
3/16/2003	A Lineker	Arch Enemy / Corporation 187 / Without Face	King Tut's Burning Angel Hut
3/5/2000	P Schwarz	Arch Enemy	London's Bridges Are Burning