Let there never ever be any doubt about the technical capabilities of the musicians that make up the melodic death metal success that goes under the name of Arch Enemy!

Neither should you venture into the wrongful idea that this troupe cannot write songs, because they can. Really good songs, too, songs that have become true metal hymns, even. They’ve done so on many occasions.

I am therefore slightly confused now: A new album from Angela and the Swedish boys. Or rather; an album consisting of re-recorded songs from the first three, pre-Angela Gossow, albums. The line-up’s been stable for a while. The Amott brothers back together. Sounds like a winning recipe, yeah?

You get the fast stuff, the classical/Yngwie Malmsteen-inspired stuff, the heavy stuff, you’ve got the wee Angela bellowing like a pregnant steamboat, but there’s one thing totally amiss: The songs that hit home the first time. The Songs that creep and crawl into your ear with immediate effect. The HITS!

I have to bow down and admit that I simply don’t know the pre-Angela albums by Arch Enemy, and perhaps that would have made a difference. But I have to conclude this: I’ve been through ‘The Root of All Evil’ several times now and despite my desperate search, I can’t find it. The magic isn’t quite there. No song gets under my skin, only bits and pieces.

What a pity, because we all know Arch Enemy have it in them.