Arch Enemy
Shepherds Bush Empire, London

06 December 2011. The opening night of the Khaos over Europe tour. Shepard’s Bush Empire is packed to the rafters and I can feel a buzz of anticipation in the air. The lights have dimmed and the crowd start pumping their fists in the air, while chanting Arch Enemy. There are images being projected onto the stage of the chaos around the world. Arch Enemy take to stage followed by euphoric applause.

The night is opened with Yesterday is Dead and Gone from the new album Khaos Legions. Moshing has already begun, with shirts flying and the floor reverberating. The next song is Revolution Begins, a clear favourite, even Santa is here taking a breaking from his strenuous chores at this time of the year. A superb opening. Angela Gossow, takes a break and thanks the crowd for the turn out, she is introducing their next song, dedicating it the priests who can’t keep their hands off little children, it is Blood Stained Cross!!! This is my favourite song, and looking at the crowd, I can see it is one of theirs as well. The mosh pit is still going on; it hasn’t stopped once while the music is playing.

The band members have all left the stage and the lights have gone off, Chris Amott walks onto the stage and starts a solo, after a couple of minutes his brother Michael makes his way onto stage to take over the solo, before finishing it off together, what fantastic players, absolutely mesmerising. All the band members are back on stage now and start playing Diva Satanica while Angela walks around the stage waving an Arch Enemy flag. People are now crowd surfing their way to the stage, Arch Enemy has set the venue alight. The band has just finished playing We Will Rise, showing praise to the crowd before saying good night and walking off the stage. The crowd clearly want more though, cheering for Arch Enemy to come back onto the stage and bring the roof down.

The fans are not disappointed. Arch Enemy are back on stage. The Encore is opened with Snow bound, the mosh pit has started up again and empty pint cups are getting thrown all over the crowd. Security handing water out to the dazed and weary. The night is finished off with Fields of Desolation, the band showing their gratitude to the great turn out and amazing atmosphere that the fans created. An amazing opening night to the tour.

Review by Warren Peart