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.

  1.  The Score
  2.  365
  3.  Inferno
  4.  Countdown
  5.  Helix
  6.  Dream
  7.  GG6
  8.  Breakthrough Starshot
  9.  My Haven
  10.  Iconic
  11.  Unified
  12.  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

www.amaranthe.se

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