Sweden’s Arch Enemy is a melodic death metal band whose time has had various line-up changes since their formation back in 1995. Now that it’s 2025, thirty years together thus far, with a twelfth full-length album under their belts released this past spring tilted “Blood Dynasty”, the band decided to head back out on the road in North America. Setting out on a headlining run with support coming from Fit For An Autopsy, Baest, and Thrown Into Exile. Having not seen the band since 2010, when they were fronted by their previous vocalist, it’s been 15 long years since last seeing them live. Now tonight at the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles, California, that would change, as they would play tonight.
Having arrived at the venue close to 8PM, checking out the merchandise selection, and grabbing a bite to eat beforehand, the venue wasn’t as packed as I had thought, the show not being sold out. Having gotten tickets for the balcony section upstairs, that section was not filled out, the lodge and floor were quite packed in though. Opening up prior to the headliners would be the runner ups Fit For An Autopsy whose set wasn’t too bad. They provided heaviness and raw energy that made the audience pleased. The music was heavy yet fast, with some moments that felt more mellow. Songs like “Far From Heaven”, “Hostage”, “The Sea of Tragic Beasts” and “Warfare”, kept the music in tune. Like it felt very similar to one another, except each one did stand out from one another too, if that makes sense.
FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY:
Headliner’s Arch Enemy played for a good hour and 30 minutes roughly, about close to 20 songs, rounding it off to 19 total. A lot of the songs included old hits “Ravenous”, “My Apocalypse”, “No Gods, No Masters”, and “Nemesis”. With other later tracks like “War Eternal”, “We Will Rise”, “Liars and Thieves”, and “Blood Dynasty” to name off just a few. A lot of these being quite crowd pleasing. The singer doing a good job, with her growl tactics, with the rest of the band doing just as well of a job if not better. A lot of their songs felt wholesome yet intense too, lots of melodic energy provided, with moments where the crowd interacted with phone lights, cheers, sing-a-alongs to jumping up and down, and headbanging. It was all just a lot of fun whichever way you looked throughout the theater.
ARCH ENEMY:
Overall this show was done right, had good performers, and having caught Arch Enemy after all this time tonight, felt refreshing. Things may have changed for them since the last and first time seeing them, but sometimes change is good, and tonight was change for the better.
SETLIST:
1. Deceiver, Deceiver
2. Ravenous
3. Dream Stealer
4. Blood Dynasty
5. War Enteral
6. My Apocalypse
7. A Million Stars
8. Liars and Thieves
9. The Eagle Flies Alone
10. First Day in Hell
11. As the Pages Burn
12. Sunset Over the Empire
13. No Gods, No Masters
14. Dead Bury Their Dead
15. We Will Rise
ENCORE:
16. Avalanche
17. Snow Bound
18. Nemesis
19. Fields of Desolation
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