War Eternal

War Eternal is the ninth studio album by Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, initially released in Japan on 4 June 2014 by Century Media Records. It marks the band’s first album in 15 years since Burning Bridges with a revamped lineup, featuring vocalist Alissa White-Gluz, who replaced long-time vocalist Angela Gossow, and guitarist Jeff Loomis, formerly of Nevermore, who joined just before the European tour following Nick Cordle’s departure.

The album was officially announced on 3 March 2014, revealing its title and release date. Angela Gossow, in a statement on 17 March 2014, confirmed her departure as vocalist and introduced Alissa White-Gluz as her successor. The album artwork, designed by Costin Chioreanu, was specifically chosen by guitarist Michael Amott to complement the music’s atmosphere.

Promotion for War Eternal included several music videos directed by Patric Ullaeus, starting with the title track released on 20 March 2014. The album received positive reviews and accolades, winning Best Album at the 2014 Burrn! magazine awards.

War Eternal features 12 tracks on the standard edition, with additional versions including bonus tracks and instrumental play-throughs. It achieved chart success across Europe and the US, reaching number 9 on the German Albums Chart and number 5 on the US Top Hard Rock Albums chart.

The production was handled by the band themselves, with mixing and mastering by Jens Bogren. The album’s diverse sound and White-Gluz’s vocal performance were highlighted positively by critics, cementing its place as a significant release in Arch Enemy’s discography.