Angela Gossow Leaves Arch Enemy, New Vocalist Announced

The Agonists Alissa White-Gluz commented:

To all my fans, friends and supporters,
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. 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.
But, it is with great sadness that I must also announce that The Agonist as you have come to know it is now a thing of the past. I had every intention of (and had even started) writing and recording yet another killer album this year, but my former band-mates decided to choose a different path. I wish I could change the situation but the unfortunate decision was made beyond my control so I can only wish them the very best of luck now that our time working together has concluded. I will always be proud of the three albums we created since 2005 and I would like to show my appreciation for the incredibly open-minded and loyal fans that I have come to know through my past decade of work in the metal scene. Thank you for accepting every bit of eccentricity I threw your way. Everything from the band name to the lyrics, the songs, the artwork and visuals, the photo shoots, harmonies, melodies, (etc); I created every bit of those with immense thought and passion. I can assure you that I will continue to pour my creativity into writing, singing and performing and look forward to your continued support with Arch Enemy. Thank you all so much for believing in me and allowing me to express myself in a completely boundless way.
Very importantly, I have to thank Angela Gossow for being my mentor and guardian angel over the years – I can honestly say that without her love and support I would not have been able to make it through as much as I have. Angela has been an inspiration, an invaluable friend and I am proud to now call her a partner. I am very humbled and grateful to her, Michael, Daniel, Sharlee and Nick for entrusting me with the Arch Enemy torch. I feel very privileged that they have welcomed me not only to take over as vocalist but also to contribute to the writing process, since lyrical integrity is important to me. Everything about this new relationship feels so right and I think our music is representative of how strong the creative chemistry is. I’m ecstatic about the music we are making! I would also like to extend my deepest and most sincere gratitude to all the members, crew and fans of Kamelot for believing in me, encouraging me and showing me endless love and appreciation over the years. It really means the world to me.
Thank you, again, to all my fans, family, colleagues and friends who supported my work all along for your relentless loyalty. 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!
Hails and horns!

In early June 2014, ARCH ENEMY will unleash their 9th studio album, War Eternal, worldwide via Century Media Records and Trooper Entertainment in Japan.
With this upcoming release, the band will introduce a new member to their ranks: Alissa White-Gluz, former vocalist of Canadian extreme metallers THE AGONIST. Angela Gossow, who joined ARCH ENEMY in 2000 and made her debut on the now classic Wages Of Sin (2001), will be stepping down as front-woman and focusing on management, while Alissa takes her place.


Angela Gossow comments:
"Dear ARCH ENEMY fans, this is not easy to tell you…I have decided to step down from being ARCH ENEMY’s voice of anger. 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. I will however remain business manager for ARCH ENEMY, and I will continue to develop my artist management roster.

I am staying true to my heavy metal roots, just leaving the spotlight so to speak. I am passing the torch to the super talented Alissa White-Gluz, whom I’ve known as a dear friend and a superb vocalist for many years. I always thought she deserved a chance to shine – and now she’s getting it. Just like I got that chance back in 2001.

I want to thank all ARCH ENEMY fans, our labels Century Media (worldwide) and Trooper Entertainment (Japan), our dedicated road crew, and in particular Michael, Daniel and Sharlee for their love and support throughout all these years. It’s been one hell of a ride! We conquered every situation, made it through thick & thin together in the most exciting and rewarding time of my life. Thank you all for being there with me on stage, in front of the stage, and backstage. You have touched my heart, and I hope I was able to give something back to you. I am grateful for the wonderful memories - I will cherish them forever!
I am looking forward to the next decade of ARCH ENEMY madness! Right now I am listening through rough mixes of the new studio album and I am blown away! 2014 will see a renewed ARCH ENEMY at the top of their game. I am proud to be part of this ARCH ENEMY chapter, albeit in a different way - revving up the engines behind the scenes. I hope to see you in front of the stage, I will join you there this time. Let the killing begin, once again!"

Alissa White-Gluz comments:
"I am very honored 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 favorite and globally respected bands, ARCH ENEMY. ‘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 favorite 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!"
Chief song-writer and band leader Michael Amott, who founded ARCH ENEMY in 1995, comments:
“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’!”
On March 20th, ARCH ENEMY will present the video for the album’s title track, “War Eternal”. Stay tuned.
ARCH ENEMY live
May 23 - TURBOHALLE - Bucharest, Romania
May 24 - Metal Summer Festival - Istanbul, Turkey
May 25 - Mixtape 5 - Sofia, Bulgaria
May 27 - Majestic Music Club - Bratislava, Slovakia
May 29 - Rock and Roll Arena - Romagnano Sesia (Novara), Italy
May 30 - New Age Club - Roncade, Italy
June 02 - L' Etage - Rennes, France
June 03 - Le 106 - Rouen, France
June 04 - La Laiterie - Strasbourg, France
June 05 - Rosenhof - Osnabrück, Germany
June 7 - Sweden Rock Festival - Sölvesborg, Sweden
June 09 - Studio USF - Bergen, Norway
June 10 - John Dee - Oslo, Norway
June 11 - Copenhell - Copenhagen, Denmark
June 13 - Colos-Saal - Aschaffenburg, Germany
June 14 - Conrad Sohm - Dornbirn, Austria
June 15 - Nova Rock - Nickelsdorf, Austria
June 27 - Rock am Härtsfeldsee - Dischingen, Germany
July 9 - RockMaraton, Pesc, Hungary
July 11 - Rock Harz Open Air - Ballenstedt, Germany
July 12 - Masters Of Rock - Vizovice, Czech Republic
July 13 - Seven Festival - Wegorzewo, Poland
July 19 - Dong Open Air - Neukirchen-Vluyn, Germany
Aug. 2 - Wacken Open Air - Wacken, Germany
Aug. 7 - Getaway Rock - Gävle, Sweden
Aug. 8 - Leyendas Del Rock - Alicante, Spain
Aug. 9 - Alcatraz Metal Festival - Kortrijk, Belgium
Aug. 14 - Summer Breeze - Dinkelsbühl, Germany
Aug. 17 - Alt-Fest - Kettering, UK
Sept. 22 - Re:Republic - Minsk - Belarus
Sept. 23 - Yunost' - Kiev, Ukraine
Sept. 25 - Arena Hall - Krasnodar, Russia
Sept. 27 - Glav Club - Moscow, Russia
Sept. 28 - Zal Ozhidaniya - Saint Petersburg, Russia
Sept. 30 - Otdykh Club - Novosibirsk, Russia
Oct. 1 - Angar Club - Omsk,
Oct. 3 - Tele Club - Yekaterinburg, Russia

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Tags:  Arch Enemy, Angela Gossow   

Jason Fisher    March 17, 2014