Maximum Metal Rating Legend

With the arrival of the new "War Eternal" release from Arch Enemy, I felt that I was sure to be getting another classic album from these melo-death veterans. What I ended up with was something far more different. After listening to the record several times over, I keep coming up with the same simple conclusion: Meh. I can't put my finger on one thing specifically that just underwhelmed, instead just a culmination of a few different issues that led to me to this. The Swedes over utilization of keyboards tends to overshadow the guitar work from Michael Amott and newcomer Nick Cordle (replacing Christopher Amott). Secondly, I'm still not sold on White-Gluiz as the new vocalist. Granted she has a different style than the band's previous two singers but I am not sure her vocals fit. I want her to succeed in AE and she has proved to the band and critics she is a hell of a vocalist. On this album her vocals come off a little flat and I don't feel the intensity and energy springing forth. The songs are well arranged with plenty of aggressive riffs and ear candy solos. Maybe I hyped the album release in my own head expecting a monster that unfortunately never came to fruition. Whatever the case may be, I find myself feeling a bit dismal and disappointed about it.