The horns were up when Arch Enemy’s Deceivers Asia Tour 2024 was here in Manila and led the metal fans in their usual exploration of introspective intense music and treated the fans to an electrifying performance.

The Swedish-based death metal band was on the stage at SM North Skydome last May 15, 2024, presented by PULP Live World, coming back to the country after Summer Slam 12: The Apostles in 2012.

Arch Enemy delivered a masterclass in metal, showcasing their technical prowess and tight musicianship. Engaging with the audience between songs, vocalist Alissa White-Gluz fostered a sense of camaraderie, igniting an electric atmosphere that reverberated throughout the venue with guitarists Michael Amott and Jeff Loomis, bassist Sharlee D’Angelo, and drummer Daniel Erlandsson.

“Thank you for the warm welcome Manila!” Alissa said, noting it was her first time performing in the country since taking over as Arch Enemy’s vocalist. She stood out with her dynamic stage presence, her blue hair flying as she headbanged in sync with the relentless energy of the music. Her commanding presence added extra intensity to an already unforgettable performance. Against a backdrop of pulsating lights and dynamic visuals, Arch Enemy unleashed a setlist of fan favorites, including iconic tracks like “Nemesis,” “War Eternal,” and “The Eagle Flies Alone,” each song met with thunderous applause and fervent enthusiasm.

As the band took command of the stage, the Filipino crowd erupted into a frenzy of headbanging and occasional mosh pits, particularly during the intense rhythm of “Handshake with Hell.” Feeding off the raw intensity of the music, fans engaged in this adrenaline-fueled tradition, further amplifying the energy of the night. While it may look like an aggressive form of musical expression, it’s always been noted that these mosh pits have always been done tastefully, as the fans respect each other and the people who join in. They pick up if someone falls, they carry the ones who want to be thrown around, and they don’t force anyone who doesn’t want to join.

As the night reached its peak, the band delivered an encore that left the audience clamoring for more, cementing their status as metal icons. They also promised their fans that they would come back to the country soon and commended how loud and enthusiastic the fans were, as the usual dose of the Filipino concert crowd. As they wrapped the night, Arch Enemy again proved why they are revered as one of the most formidable forces in modern metal, as the energy did not waver throughout the evening. Long live death metal.

Setlist:
Deceiver, Deceiver
Blood on Your Hands
War Eternal
In the Eye of the Storm
House of Mirrors
My Apocalypse
The Watcher
The Eagle Flies Alone
Handshake With Hell
As the Pages Burn
No Gods, No Masters
Dead Bury Their Dead
We Will Rise
Enemy Within
Burning Angel
Snow Bound
Nemesis
Fields of Desolation

Words by Arielle Elep; Photos by Kerwin De Dios