It's the third time for Arch Enemy's melodic death metal. This is much more compact album than previous 'Stigmata' (1998), and its 8 new songs (35 minutes) are also more compact. In length, that is...

There is always a lot of things going on in Arch Enemy's music. The foundation of the music is still heavy and groovy death metal. The band have taken more influences from heavy metal and even rock (ranging from German power metal to Loudness!). Some riffs sound very familiar (for example 'Seed of Hate', 'Silverwing' and the chorus of 'Pilgrim'). Musicianship is very high: Amott brothers guitar skills are impressive and enjoyable to listen to, even for non-guitarists! I mean every fucking guitar solo is memorable. Bass is played by Sharlee D'Angelo from Mercyful Fate and Witchery and tight drumming is courtesy of ex-In Flames skinsman Daniel Erlandsson. Michael Amott's Carcass / Carnage roots can be heard, especially on 'Demonic Science' and his more soulful side from Spiritual Beggars. His brother Christopher is as great as his bro. One word to picture the band: Tight! Musically this is quite fast, except the title track, which is very doomy and sad.

Johan Liiva's vocals are brutal growling and fit in better than last time (soundwise and lyricwise). Lyrically 'Burning Bridges' follow the theme of... Well, burning bridges behind you! That's fucked up relationships. Some more usual death metal style lyrics can also be found. I have to praise the Fredrik Nordström's heavy yet well-balanced production job. Great work.

Two bonus tracks are from Japanese version of 'Stigmata'. 'Diva Satanica' is a good thrasher, but 'Hydra' is quite a boring instrumental. The ending of this record should have been the title track, because it sounds so final! Cover art is bad, but booklet looks fine.

'Burning Bridges' is very well produced, heavy and intense melodic Swedish metal. Groovy and energetic, but nonetheless technical. The good thing about it is that it sounds Arch Enemy. 'Burning Bridges' = Metal galore!!!

PS. The rating is okay right now at the beginning of 2007. The album hasn't lost even a bit of its ferocious impact of METAL! Actually, it sounds like it's getting better with years. Still, easily my favourite Arch Enemy platter together with the predecessor 'Stigmata'. Gets a "Honorary mention" from me.

Rating: 8½ (out of 10)

Reviewed by Lane
31/12/1999 16:53

Alright, well this album is a great follow up from 'Stigmata' (1998), but it lacks the heaviness of that their predecessor dishes out. Yes, it does this, but that doesn't make it a not so phenomenal release. Too many people, after they heard 'Burning Bridges', gave it a lot of negative press and I heard a lot complaints. That would be such as the production not being thick enough, the leads were half-assed, and some guitar parts are just merely monotonous. The hell with that because there are some riffs on this release, especially the chorus of the song 'Pilgrim', which makes my arm hair standup just to hear it.

I agree that there will be no more 'Stigmata' for the band. But like releases because that one is almost impossible for them to ever duplicate. But they didn't give up like At The Gates did after 'Slaughter of the Soul' (1995). Sit down and listen, Arch Enemy has tons of material on here I think you'll learn to respect over time. To those metal guitarists, they are in B-tuning on here. That makes the music sound heavier and more brutal. However, this album remains to pull off melodic riffs with Johan not drowing out the riffs. Michael Amott coached Johan through the release to this album. His vocals go hand in hand with the songs quite well. Check out the songs 'The Immortal', 'Pilgrim', 'Dead Inside' and 'Silverwing'. These, to me, are my personal favorite tracks. The later version of this release contains live songs, both new and old. The bonus CD features 17 tracks in all and runs for about 75 minutes in-length altogether. They are still able to pull off great the melodic riffs captured on their live songs. Definitely a good thing.

A lot of the lyrics and sounds of it reveal dark depression some of us humans go throughout every day of our lives. To connect with that type of melancholy is great when you're really in that type of mood or maybe not? Nevertheless, 'Burning Bridges' offers variety in songwriting style with no blast beating, but just great overall melodic death all the way through. They have a bonus track on here by Iron Maiden entitled 'Aces High'.

Johan Liiva, their previous vocalist, puts for I think his best vocal effort ever for Arch Enemy, making it that much easier to get into. Plus, it fits the music much better than say on the first Arch Enemy release entitled 'Black Earth' (1996). The regular release of 'Burning Bridges' isn't that track lengthy, but cherish every song because it will not let you down with just mediocre melodic death metal. Come on, this is Arch Enemy we are speaking of, they are giants within their own genre. Own it, now.

Rating: 9 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Death8699
08/16/2010 12:08