Angela Gossow has left her position as vocalist for Arch Enemy to move into a management role and been replaced by The Agonist’s Alissa White-Gluz.
It may come as a surprise to some with the band set to release their ninth album in the summer, but rather than being forced out she made the decision to leave herself. Angela will however still be involved with Arch Enemy. In what sounds more like the changes that go on in Alan Sugar’s offices, she will now be Arch Enemy’s business manager.
In a statement released Angela Gossow said: “I have decided to step down from being Arch Enemy’s voice of anger. After 13 years of pure fucking metal, six studio albums and countless tours through five continents, I feel the need to enter a different phase in my life, be with my family and pursue other interests. I will however remain business manager for Arch Enemy, and I will continue to develop my artist management roster.
“I am staying true to my heavy metal roots, just leaving the spotlight so to speak. I am passing the torch to the super talented Alissa White-Gluz, whom I’ve known as a dear friend and a superb vocalist for many years. I always thought she deserved a chance to shine – and now she’s getting it, just like I got that chance back in 2001.”
Angela goes on to thank the band’s labels, fans, fellow members etc. While she will be missed by some fans, a new singer is always an exciting time for any band and Alissa White-Gluz is obviously delighted at the opportunity (otherwise she’d have stuck with The Agonist).
Alissa White-Gluz commented: “I have joined forces with one of my all-time favourite and globally respected bands, Arch Enemy. Wages of Sin was the first metal album I ever bought, and it was love at first listen. It is not often that you get a phone call from your favourite band asking you to join! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such amazingly talented musicians whom I also consider great friends. I look forward to being able to write and perform at a whole new level now with Arch Enemy! Music is forever, metal is limitless and this is only the beginning!”
Alissa further explains that she intended to continue with The Agonist and had even started writing and recording for their new album, but the rest of the band decided it was time to bring in someone new too. So The Agonist will now be fronted by Greek singer Vicky Psarakis who is relatively unknown but has previously guested on Until Rain and Barque Of Dante albums.
In a statement that adds very little to the previous sentence The Agonist said: “Today we announce that after three albums and countless tours we officially part ways with vocalist Alissa White-Gluz. We wish Alissa all the best with Arch Enemy and her future endeavours. It is the beginning of a new and exciting chapter for The Agonist ! We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to the The Agonist family. Please give a warm welcome to very talented vocalist Vicky Psarakis!”
So, if you’ve got your head round today’s edition of extreme metal musical chairs, enjoy some final words from Arch Enemy stalwart Michael Amott.
He said: “We are eternally grateful to Angela for all her passion, hard work and talent. Her legacy is tremendous and will always be a big part of the band’s history. We feel great pride in what has been achieved in the past, but also look forward to new battles and new victories. We welcome Alissa with open arms – and we hope you will have open ears. We might have just created our most wicked metal opus yet with our upcoming album ‘War Eternal’!”
War Eternal is due out in June this year. Arch Enemy will release the video for its title track on March 20.
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