While some of the genre's hardcore aficionados might disagree, death metal tempered with a dab of accessibility is generally a more enticing proposition -- not only does it render the intensity more consistently listenable, it also increases the chances of a band developing an original voice, since the group doesn't tie itself down to genre conventions.
Arch Enemy
are one such band, having honed a potent blend of classic-style death metal, melodic twin-guitar leads a la the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, touches of prog metal and of grindcore courtesy of later
Carcass
or
Napalm Death
, and just plain solid riff writing.
Burning Bridges
, their third effort, consolidates the gains made on its predecessor
Stigmata
, establishing
as a dependable force and one of the better bands working death metal territory as the '90s drew to a close. ~ Steve Huey