Album Review: Arch Enemy - Will To Power

High-octane, anthemic metal remains these Swedes' default setting, and Will To Power features a memorable hook lurking around almost every corner.

Their long-standing formula is echoed via The World Is Yours and Murder Scene's visceral thrills. Perhaps the only major curveball they could realistically throw at their audience nowadays is clean vocals. Note their first "ballad", Reason to Believe, featuring Alissa White-Gluz's grunts and pristine singing. It gels, too. Recently recruited virtuoso shredder Jeff Loomis (Nevermore) surprisingly didn't contribute songwriting wise, but scorching solos add extra class to neoclassical-inflected Dreams Of Retribution. Occasional, well-implemented strings inject another flavour. Overall, trademark Arch Enemy, with a few fresh elements incorporated.