Arch Enemy Vocalist Quits To Become The Band's Business Manager

This could well be the most pleasant personnel change we've ever seen in any band.

Arch Enemy vocalist Angela Gossow has been the formidable face of the melodic death metal band for the past 14 years, fronting the group for six records and countless live shows, including a few trips to Australia.

Her priorities have changed, though, and today she announced she would be finishing up her tenure with the band, effective immediately. The band have already found a replacement, in 28-year-old Canadian singer Alissa White Gluz, who has been best known as vocalist for metalcore group The Agonist.

It's all so very pleasant that Gossow won't be completely ditching the band, she is going to stay on and work as the group's business manager while they're out

“After 13 years of pure fucking metal, 6 studio albums and countless tours through five continents, I feel the need to enter a different phase in my life, be with my family and pursue other interests,” she said in a statement today. “I will however remain business manager for ARCH ENEMY, and I will continue to develop my artist management roster.”

Safe to say the new vocalist is pretty thrilled at her new role, White Gluz quick to acknowledge the importance of Arch Enemy on her formative musical years.

“I am very honoured and happy to announce a new chapter in my life and musical career beginning now; I have joined forces with one of my all-time favourite and globally respected bands, Arch Enemy,” she said. “Wages of Sin was the first metal album I ever bought, and it was love at first listen.

“It is not often that you get a phone call from your favourite band asking you to join! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such amazingly talented musicians whom I also consider great friends. I look forward to being able to write and perform at a whole new level now with Arch Enemy! Music is forever, metal is limitless and this is only the beginning!”

The band's founder Michael Amott is looking to the future but acknowledges the huge part Gossow has played through the bulk of the band's existence.

“We are eternally grateful to Angela for all her passion, hard work and talent. Her legacy is tremendous and will always be a big part of the band's history. We feel great pride in what has been achieved in the past, but also look forward to new battles and new victories. We welcome Alissa with open arms - and we hope you will have open ears. We might have just created our most wicked metal opus yet with our upcoming album War Eternal!”

The band's new record War Eternal will be released in June with the first single – the title track – due for release in just a couple of days.