This Friday, Swedish electronica pop/death metal giants Amaranthe will be releasing “Helix” via Spinefarm Records. It is certainly a departure from their 2016 effort entitled “Maximalism”.
“Helix” will certainly be an interesting release for Amaranthe as it appears that they are trying to find their identity after being lambasted for going way too pop on “Maximalism”, with “That Song” being so pop-rock, its like Amaranthe was being defiant and rebellious towards their fanbase.
Fans start seeing Amaranthe trying to get back to more of the metal side with more gravelly vocals, more punch packed in the guitars, and where electronica seems to be taking a bit of a backseat. Case in point in the track “GG6”, the track certainly takes on a heavy industrial feel in the intro, before transitioning into somewhat of a djent breakdown. The death metal vocals makes Amaranthe sound more serious and that they’re taking out all the aggression they felt from the critics from their 2016 effort.
There are those moments in Amaranthe where the choruses sound anthemic and soaring. Tracks such as “Helix”, “Dream”, and “Breakthrough Starshot” bring about those pop feelings, but I wanted to hear esteemed vocalist Elize Ryd take it to that next step to make her stand out amongst the female elite vocalists in the European metal genre. If you want to hear something crazy, check out the chorus to their latest lyric video entitled “Inferno”, and tell me if it doesn’t sound like the chorus to “Shape Of You” by Ed Sheeran, while the instrumental break is decent enough, the chorus kind of ruins it.
Overall, I wanted to hear some standout moments from Amaranthe, instead it feels like they missed the mark. I want to hear more pizzazz in the arrangements, along with those choruses that they are known for to stick out even more. The growling is a bit of overkill. There is really nothing memorable about this record. Madness To Creation rates this a 5.5/10 stars. Amaranthe needs to find their identity again. Check out the track listing below.
- The Score
- 365
- Inferno
- Countdown
- Helix
- Dream
- GG6
- Breakthrough Starshot
- My Haven
- Iconic
- Unified
- Momentum
From October 2018 through January 2019, Amaranthe will be touring Europe with Powerwolf and Kissin’ Dynamite. Check out tour dates below.
Thu. 10/25- Le Bataclan in Paris, France
Fri. 10/26- Kulturzentrum Schlacthof in Weisbaden, Germany
Sat. 10/27- Turbinenhalle in Oberhausen, Germany
Mon. 10/29- Grosse Freiheit 36 in Hamburg, Germany
Wed. 10/31- Huxleys Neue Welt in Berlin, Germany
Thu. 11/1- Progresja in Warsaw, Poland
Fri. 11/2- Haus Ausenee in Leipzig, Germany
Tue. 11/6- Arena Wien in Wien, Austria
Wed. 11/7- Live Club in Milan, Italy
Fri. 11/9- TonHalle in Munchen, Germany
Sat. 11/10- MHP Arena in Ludwigsburg-eglosheim, Germany
Sun. 11/11- Effenaar in Eindhoven, Netherlands
Mon. 11/12- Koko in London, United Kingdom
Wed. 11/14- Les Docks in Lausanne, Switzerland
Thu. 11/15- Komplex 457 in Zurich, Switzerland
Fri. 11/16- Music Hall in Geiselwind, Germany
Sat. 11/17- Saarlandhalle in Saarbrucken, Germany
Fri. 11/23- Roverstaden in Oslo, Norway
Sat. 11/24- Byscenen in Trondheim, Norway
Fri. 1/11- Le Rocher de Palmer in Cenon, France
Tue. 1/15- L’Aeronef in Lille, France
Wed. 1/16- Stereolux in Nantes, France
Thu. 1/17- LE 106 in Deville-les-rouen, France
Sat. 1/19- Manchester Academy 2 in Manchester, United Kingdom
Sun. 1/20- SWG3 Studio Warehouse in Glasgow, United Kingdom
Mon. 1/21- SWX in Bristol, United Kingdom
Tue. 1/22- The Mill, Digbeth in Birmingham, United Kingdom
Thu. 1/24- La Cartonneire in Reims, France
Sat. 1/26- L’Autre Canal in Nancy, France
Sun. 1/27- ESPACE JULIEN in Marsielle, France
Mon. 1/28- Transbordeur in Villeurbanne, France
Tue. 1/29- Laiterie in Strasbourg, France
Amaranthe will be resuming their European tour with follow the cipher and Warkings.
Thu. 1/31- Doornroosje in Nijmegen, Netherlands
Fri. 2/1- Trix in Antwerpen, Belgium
Sat. 2/2- Z7 Konzertfabrik in Pratteln, Switzerland
Sun. 2/3- den Atelier in Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Mon. 2/4- Greuenspan in Hamburg, Germany
Wed. 2/6- KB Malmo in Malmo, Sweden
Thu. 2/7- Pustervik in Gothenburg, Sweden
Fri. 2/8- Tivoli in Helsingborg, Sweden
Sat. 2/9- Frimis Salonger in Orebro, Sweden
Mon. 2/11- Pumpehuset in Kobenhavn, Denmark
Tue. 2/12- Katalin and all that jazz in Uppsala, Sweden
Wed. 2/13- Fryshuset Klubben in Stockholm, Sweden
Fri. 2/15- OULUN ENERGIA-AREENA in Oulu, Finland
Sat. 2/16- Helsingin Jaahalli Black Box in Helsinki, Finland
For tickets and further information on any of the shows listed above, click here.
Fans can find Amaranthe at the following locations:
www.facebook.com/AmarantheBand
