Terrible but not AS Terrible
I have to admit that this album isn't as bad as 'Doomsday Machine'. It's still terrible and I don't recommend you buy it at all, but it is better than the previous one. Of course, farting in my own mouth is better than 'Doomsday Machine' so I guess it's not saying much.

Essentially I'd describe this as the best you can possibly do with the elements found on 'Doomsday Machine'. Gothenburg-derived guitarwork laced with Machine Head groove, annoying mock-ferocious vocals from that retarded chimp Gossow, and generic drumwork, all tied up with the bow of painfully sterile and clean production. There's almost nothing to recommend for it except that it's 'not that bad'. Again, it's better than 'Doomsday Machine'. The guitars are kind of catchy from time to time, there's some decent riffs that don't repeat themselves for minutes on end, and the lyrics aren't quite as awful as the previous release. There are good moments on this record.

But really let me remind you that it's still an awful piece of crap. The Amott brothers haven't been generally able to write a riff to save their lives in a decade now and the trend isn't bucked particularly hard here. The vocals still suck and the music in general is as monotonous as ever, and only the most diehard fans of crappy throwback groove/Gothenburg stuff will find anything of value here. There's no point to listen to something like this when there's infinitely better melodeath IN THE SAME COUNTRY as this band. Really, the only thing that 'Rise Of The Tyrant' has going for it is that it's not quite as painful as 'Doomsday Machine'. Aside from that, it's just terrible.

Don't listen to this, don't buy it, don't think about the band, don't let Angela Gossow open her mouth under any circumstances, she's an embarrassment to us all. Actually the whole band is, let's find a pit to bury them in.

Awesome slab of true metal
This is the best metal album I've heard in YEARS. Arch Enemy fuses incredible virtuoso guitar playing (Michael and Christoper Ammott)with in your face metal power. Vocalist Angela Gossow gets more variety out of her growl then any number of others out there. If you like old-school metal, Maiden, Priest, etc but don't think you like screaming/growling vocals, check this out, it will change your mind.

I personally like this album better than Doomsday Machine because I think this one does a better job conveying Angela's sound. Her vocals are a lot more processed on Doomsday Machine; while that worked well on some of the tracks, I think Rise of the Tyrant is closer to her live sound and just has more power. Plus, the overall mix is fatter and heavier on Tyrant. The guitar playing is just pure metal. Some damn fine drumming on this record, too.

I view Arch Enemy as the true heirs of Iron Maiden, the best metal band after Sabbath started it all. Swear your allegiance to Angela and CRANK IT!!!!

3.5 Stars
Bottomline: Excellent song writing and musicianship with lyrics that get annoying after awhile.

Angela's vocals don't show that much range in this CD and she's lacking a distinctive snarl, however so do a lot of other metal bands. She's good, but I think has potential to be a lot better in the future. With that being said most of the songs on this album are not very experimental and it seems to be the same stuff that Arch Enemy has been creating since day one. However, there are plenty of inter changing riffs with melodic heights and solos.

All in all, a good CD from a talented band that has so much more potential than what they display on this CD. That is my opinion.

Very good album, but their best?
Certainly not.

Arch Enemy has a great deal to offer and, while this album is a solid effort, it lacks a certain amount of enthusiasm showcased in their other material. For those looking to get into Arch Enemy, I'd start with something else. Consider Wages of Sin. If you're already a fan, though, this album is certainly worth having.

Already a Masterpiece, and their BEST thus far!!
Swedish melodic death metal powerhousers Arch Enemy have once again returned with their lastest masterpiece 2007's "Rise of the Tyrant". This album is just nothing short of pure absolute melodic death metal brilliance, and it's also heavier and faster than the band's last two albums as well as being their BEST album thus far in my opinion. "Rise of the Tyrant" is just chock full of frightening, vicious vocals, trail blazing guitar solos, deadly heart pounding drumwork, I mean this is a true and pure melodic death metal assault on your senses. The production by Fredrik Nordstrom is just great. Angela Gossow's trademark death growls are just frightening, vicious, relentless, and amazing throughout. Guitarists Michael and Christopher Amott's dualing riffs, solos, and harmonies are absolutely blazing and jaw dropping, believe me this album is just chock full of awesome solos and harmonies throughout. Sharlee D'Angelo's bass lines are very strong, and of course Daniel Erlandsson's double bass drumming is fast, powerful and heart pounding. I love every song on this album, but here are some highlights of some of my favorites anyway. The opening track and my favorite song "Blood on Your Hands" is a brutal heavy opener that starts off with the sound of an air raid siren, and before you know it the song quickly gives way to a barrage of brutal riffs and punishing drumwork. There's also some great vocals from Angela as well as some great solos and harmonies by the Amott brothers. The next track "The Last Enemy" features fast machine gun like riffs, lightning fast double bass kick onslaughts, angry fierce growls, and more fast shredding solos, and there's a nice accoustic outro as well. "I Will Live Again" is one of the few slower and melodic tracks on here, while track four "In this Shallow Grave" is another fast brutal scorcher that features more fast pounding drumwork, wild intense guitarwork, and ear shrieking screams and growls from Angela. The next track and my second favorite song on here "Revloution Begins" is another melodic yet heavy rocker that features addicting melodic leads, a catchy rocking chorus, as well as some excellent melodic solos to boot, and of course Angela gives out a great vocal performance on this song too. Next we have the title track "Rise of the Tyrant" which includes more fast thrashing riffs, trail blazing solos, heart pounding drumwork, and awesome tempo changes. Track eight "Intermezzo Liberte" is a nice melodic instrumental cut that features some more nice lead work. "Vultures" is an awesome album closer that features some nice intro leads, a thumping thrashy drum beat, more great riffs and solos and there's also a nice piano solo near the end as well. Please read on for the full song list and ratings.
Jeremy's song ratings:
1. Blood on Your Hands (4:41) - 5/5 My favorite song
2. The Last Enemy (4:15) - 5/5
3. I Will Live Again (3:32) - 5/5
4. In This Shallow Grave (4:54) - 5/5
5. Revolution Begins (4:11) - 5/5 My second favorite
6. Rise of the Tyrant (4:33) - 5/5
7. The Day You Died (4:52) - 5/5
8. Intermezzo Liberte (2:51) - 5/5
9. Night Falls Fast (3:18) - 5/5
10. The Great Darkness (4:46) - 5/5
11. Vultures (6:35) - 5/5

Overall, I highly recommend "Rise of the Tyrant" to any fan of Arch Enemy, melodic death metal, death metal, melodic metal, or simply just heavy metal in general. Believe me, this album is already a classic masterpiece as well as their best thus far.

Enjoy and Happy Headbanging!!
Jeremy