It’s been two years since Arch Enemy unleashed their album “Doomsday Machine” on their fans. It was an album, which was truly sensational in its power, playing and attitude. With that album they set themselves a very high standard to maintain and only in fans wildest dreams was the thought that maybe they could better it. Well the new album is ready and comes in the shape of “Rise Of The Tyrant” and I have been lucky enough to be handed a copy to review. Does it deliver?

Opening track “Blood On Your Hands” begins with an air raid siren that is a good indication of what is to come. The band gives you no time to seek cover as musically they deliver a full frontal assault on the senses. It’s focused, ferocious and most importantly a hell of a lot of devilish fun. Michael and Christopher Amott supply stunning guitar solos and also wonderfully melodic harmonies. As an opening track “Blood On Your Hands” is a great statement of intent and the next track “The Last Enemy” picks up the baton and runs with it. Supplying superhuman levels of speedy drumming and guitar riffing. Once more we get wonderful neo-classical guitar solos, which are set to stun in a most musical way.

“I Will Live Again” sees the band taking the tempo down as well as the guitars bottom strings to create glorious riffs that’s stagger along as if drunk. The song is littered with dark melodic patterns and is dramatic in its delivery.

“In This Shallow Grave” is a thrashers delight. It’s aggressive, abrasive and unsettling. It charges down the tracks into its own oblivion. The guitar soloing towards the end of the track is out of this world and shows what can be achieved through years of practicing and honing ones technique.

“Revolution Begins” sees the band reigning in their extreme metal style and giving us a mid tempo rocker in a way that only Arch Enemy could deliver. The track gives Angela Gossow's vocals room to breathe and manoeuvre and as a result we get to hear them at their sinister best.

The title track “Rise Of The Tyrant” begins with some spoken sound bites. What follows is Arch Enemy going into dark metal overdrive and dragging the listener down with them. Guitars scream and wail with glee and drums pound everything in their path into a pulp.

“The Day You Died” has to be one of the albums most commercial sounding moments. It’s melodic and catchy and boasts some great soulful guitar solos. There is a mildly Iron Maiden vibe to the guitar soloing. I kept hearing “The Evil That Men Do” in my head even though it has no resemblance to the music of Arch Enemy.

“Intermezzo Liberté” is a truly special instrumental ably demonstrating the melodic guitar playing of Michael and Christopher Amott. It has a wonderful European flavour and with the slightly cocked wah guitar pedal on the guitars I kept thinking of Michael Schenker and Uli Jon Roth in their prime.

“Night Falls Fast” stomps along with menace and a real sense of bad intent. The song has some really cool rhythmic changes that keep the listener on their toes.

“The Great Darkness” sees the band digging deep and delivering some ungodly guitar riffs and melodies. Massed choir vocals add to the atmosphere and bring a texture to the bands sound that really suits their music. The song changes direction midway through and opens the door for some very melodic and exciting guitar soloing. This whole track is arranged for maximum and dramatic impact and it delivers on both counts.

The final track is “Vultures” and the band press the speed metal pedal to the floor and takes off like a bullet from a gun. It’s not for those with a weak disposition and one almost breathes a sigh of relief when the band takes the aggression down towards the end.

As mentioned at the beginning of this review Arch Enemy gave us an awesome album in 2005 with “Doomsday Machine” which many thought they would never better. I have news for those people which is “Rise Of the Tyrant” is actually better .The full, heavy and intense sound remains intact but with, dare I say it, better songs.

The whole album is a devilishly exciting and fiendishly fun roller coaster ride of metal rushes. On this form Arch Enemy look unstoppable. Recommended.