Arch Enemy--Stigmata (1998/Century Media) Rating--7.7

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Extreme metal with vocals that fit somewhere between the Death and Black standards, as there is a bit more shout than growl. "Melodic" Death to a point, though that distinction won't be firmly stamped until the band's follow-up release. There are various tempo and riff changes, as Arch Enemy pushes the extreme-metal envelope along with acts such as In Flames, At the Gates, Hypocrisy, and others. The Japanese edition contains several bonus tracks; they are included here.
Strong marks are awarded to "Sinister Mephisto," "Tears of the Dead," and the heavy mainframe of "Let the Killing Begin," which then gives way to a melodic and flowing chorus.
Other good cuts include "Diva Satanica," "Damnation's Way," and "Bridge of Destiny".

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TRACK LIST: Beast of Man/Stigmata/Sinister Mephisto/Dark of the Sun/Let the Killing Begin/Black Earth/Hydra/Tears of the Dead/Diva Satanica/Damnation's Way/ Vox Stellarum/Bridge of Destiny

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