Tobi Stahl reviewed our album for Obliveon! Siehe den Link für die Rezension auf Deutsch. Wenn du kein Deutsch verstehst, you can read the rough English translation below.
From Finland come ARCHED FIRE who released their first album “Remote Control” on Wormholedeath in 2021, now they are back with a new album! “Trust Betrayal” is the name of the disc with which ARCHED FIRE want to expand their spectrum and which they are releasing on Wormholedeath Records.
Ari Väntänen (rhythm guitar) remembers:
’After the first album came out, we really got going. We just kept writing new songs until we got our hands on this thing called “Trust Betrayal”.’
On their second album, the Finns want to return to their old school metal with full force. The topics range from everyday experiences to dystopian visions. I’m curious if ARCHED FIRE can inspire me more this time.
‘Fear’ starts stomping, then picks up the pace and, in addition to rapid guitars, also has the typically mangy vocals of singer Kristian Herkman, which I like better here than on their debut album “Remote Control”. ‘Pestilence’ is a really phat track and will delight headbangers. Fans of Tim “Ripper” Owens will also get their money’s worth, because he’s part of the game! ‘Narcissist’ sounds really good musically and in the parts with clear vocals, I don’t like the passages that were provided with scratchy, high-pitched vocals. ARCHED FIRE banged sharply in and during ‘Blind Faith’, which after a stomping start goes insanely fast and is the right song for inclined moshers. No, the next song is not dedicated to our site. ‘Oblivion’ alternates between stomping parts, fast moments and rather heavy grooves. This also applies to the vocals, which are sometimes clear and dark, sometimes bright and scratchy. ‘Corporeal Abhorrence of Entrails’ sounds like gritty old school metal and is a good song, as are ‘Self-Backstabbers’, ‘Mastermind’, ‘Wings of Chrome’ and ‘Artificial Sun’. Only the screeching high-pitched vocals are annoying, especially on ‘Artificial Sun’, because the vocals there sound like Morty (from the series “Rick and Morty”) on speed. I wonder why this style of singing has to be when the harsh and raspy tones sound much, much better.
The Finns show themselves improved with their second work and deliver good craftsmanship on the instruments. If I criticized an audible restlessness on the debut, “Trust Betrayal” seems more harmonious, but without losing its mangy and freshness, which I already liked on “Remote Control”. Also the mostly clear vocals and the harsh tones are good. To the high singing I quote myself:
The shrill vocals were sometimes really exhausting for the ears.
The development of ARCHED FIRE is going in the right direction and “Trust Betrayal” is the proof. I’m looking forward to more songs by the Scandinavians.
Tobi Stahl awards 7 out of 10
archedfire.com 