This time, I got a chance to talk to guitarist Nick Cordle (ex-Arsis, ex-This Means You) about the new Arch Enemy reborn. With War Eternal out and the new addition of Alissa White-Gluz (ex-The Agonist) on vocals, we got a sneak peek at what this year holds for the Swedish melodic death metal masters.
TMF: How did you join Arch Enemy?
AE: It was pretty fast and easy. My phone rang while I was on tour with my previous band and it was Michael, and I was of course interested in the gig immediately. A few months later we were playing in Japan, and moving full speed into the new album.
TMF: How’s the touring life been?
AE: Same as always, haha. It’s always a story of ups and downs, and you just have to keep your focus and priorities in order. I’ve always enjoyed it!
TMF: How’s the adaptation with Alissa White-Gluz?
AE: It’s been very nice! She has a really vast range of things she can do with her voice … It opens a lot of possibilities for us. Helps that she really knows what she’s doing recording and touring, so it’s been really great so far!
TMF: How did Alissa join the lineup?
AE: Alissa was the only person we contacted after Angela made her decision to retire. We brought her over to Sweden to rehearse and record some demos, and it was pretty clear immediately that we had the right singer.
TMF: Tell us about the inspiration behind ‘War Eternal’? How was the writing process for the album?
AE: The inspiration from the start was to take the year 2013 and leave absolutely no details to chance … It’s by far the most detailed writing process I’ve ever been around. When I’m working on new music, I like to make tons of demos and really scrutinize everything that way, and then take it to the rehearsal room to really find out if it works. Everybody in this band sees it the way I do apparently, and we took the time to make sure it was right.
TMF: What bands influence you?
AE: I’m kind of an old school thrasher at heart but I think I’m mostly influenced by music which is put together in a particular way, whether it’s dressed up as metal or whatever else. These days I’m spending a lot of time with very old-fashioned metal: Riot, Judas Priest, that kind of thing … and then Depeche Mode and Ultravox. There’s such a great melodic sense in that stuff, and the music is put together so carefully. I get a lot of enjoyment from that.
TMF: Any advice for any upcoming metal bands?
AE: Buy some cookbooks, because you are going to be broke and by yourselves for a long time, and it will seriously improve your life if you can make yourself something decent to eat in the years between now and when you’re the next Metallica.
