[REVIEW] ARCH ENEMY @ QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE
5/9/2025
(Written for ADDICTED Magazine)
On May 9, Arch Enemy stormed Toronto’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre with a fiery set on their Blood Dynasty North American tour. Known for their explosive live shows, the Swedish melodic death metal giants didn’t waste a second setting the tone—opening with Metallica’s For Whom the Bell Tolls over the speakers before launching into Deceiver, Deceiver. From there, they dove straight into fan-favorite Ravenous and the newer, pummeling Dream Stealer, kicking off the night with a blast of speed, melody, and pure force.
Frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz was unstoppable. Dressed in a white outfit that shifted colors with the lighting, she roared through every track with incredible vocal control and presence. At times conductor, at times warrior, she had the crowd in the palm of her hand from the first growl to the last scream. A standout moment came mid-set when she waved a giant Arch Enemy flag on stage, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Guitarist Joey Concepcion, now on his first official tour with the band, traded shredding leads with founding guitarist Michael Amott, adding fresh fire to the band’s melodic assault. The chemistry between the two was seamless, especially on The Eagle Flies Alone and Handshake With Hell.
Meanwhile, Sharlee D’Angelo held down the low end with incredible tone and timing. His bass work added real weight and groove to the live mix—particularly noticeable on slower, heavy-hitting tracks like House of Mirrors, where he gave the riffs extra bite. Drummer Daniel Erlandsson, elevated on risers and lit by pinpoint spotlights, drove the set with power and precision.
Crowd surfing barely stopped all night, and just when it seemed the energy couldn’t go any higher, giant Arch Enemy-branded balloons dropped toward the end of the set, turning the floor into a chaos of limbs, cheers, and flying logos.
Then came the encore.
Capping the night with Fields of Desolation, the band reached back to their roots. Originally from their 1996 debut Black Earth, the track was a fitting and emotional closer—bridging the band’s past and present - representative of the entire show really. Instrumental and cinematic, it left the crowd in a stunned kind of silence, a rare breather after the relentless energy. A nod to longtime fans and a reminder of just how far the band has come, it felt like the perfect way to end a night of total domination. From top to bottom, Arch Enemy proved they’re still one of the tightest and most dynamic bands in metal today.
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