Over the last few days' commutes...
Couple of random comments...11 Dreams is such a great album. Hadn't revisited it in a while, and it's such cool mix of things: modern, melodic, heavy. The title-track is fantastic. Also, Burning Bridges is my favorite Arch Enemy album...to be fair, I have stopped following them for many years now, but no song I listened to in a while has truly enticed me to explore more. Doesn't matter...This particular record is so tasty in the way it incorporates a ton of classic rock/metal influences, especially in the choruses. I mean, the chord progression in Pilgrim's chorus is basically BOC's Astronomy. The solo section in The Immortal is totally Zakk-era Ozzy. Plenty more fun "nods" scattered here and there. And Michael Amott is on fire here (his brother Chris too, but I have a particularly soft spot for Michael's soloing...in Carcass and Spiritual Beggars as well)
Lizzy Borden's Master of Disguise was fun too. I didn't know it super-well, and it was a nice listen. A bit theatrical, not too much cheese