Wages of Sin was a good album, I didn't mean to insinuate that it wasn't. I'm just pointing out that it is the starting point of their decline. You can immediately hear the difference between Burning Bridges and WoS, and not just because of Angela. Still, it's a good album and may very well be their best with Angela. It's got some killer riffs.
We have different takes on it, which is cool (and interesting). I look at WOS as a logical progression from BB. I see no decline or regression whatsoever. The riffs are slightly less barbaric than before and a bit more polished, but yea, I think it works. The decline stated with AOR in my opinion. I mean even the name of the record just stinks of mass appeal.
Man I used to love Arch Enemy. I saw them on tour maybe 12 times in like a 2 or 3 year period. They were a brutal live band. So loud and fast. No 'jump up an down' shit like In Flames writes now. Just raw speed and duel guitars up the ass. Used to be awesome. One of the best memories I have is seeming them on the WOS tour in Worcester on the upstairs stage, tiny room, packed, no barrier. I was right up front. The energy level was through the roof. Never saw them with JL unfortunately.
Again people (or a select few anyway) start shitting on Jeff. Guess what...I've met Jeff. I've hung out with Jeff. I've had beers with Jeff. He's just a chill, down to earth, nice dude. It really isn't possible to 'hate' him if you've ever had even a 5 second conversation with him. And saying he ruined Nevermore is a fucking joke. Saying you 'hate' him because of 'what he did to Nevermore' is even worse. So dramatic. I've said some pretty stupid things on this board, but you really do sound fucking pathetic when you continually whine and look down on WD and Jeff. Oh WD you saved me from suicide (true?) so
you owe me.
You must make music that appeals to me and only me, because you're my bitch. You sing for me. If you even try to do something that I don't like then you have failed. And you Jeff, you awesome fucking guitarist, you used to be so good on the guitar but you started playing a seven string and ruined my favorite band. You owe me, too. Nevermore, your band, is actually my band. It's all about me. You're a shitty human being and fuck you and everything you stand for). That's what you sound like, bro. Your sense of entitlement is nauseating. You're rude and you're obnoxious and you sound like you're 12 years old. You really need to get your ass kicked.
Jeff was the engine that drove Nevermore (taking nothing away from WD as I've said many times). Even WD said, "Nevermore is a guitar band". Implicit in that statement is the fact that as Jeff goes, Nevermore goes (went). Who knows why he joined AE, and who knows why he left Nevermore and why he doesn't want to return. Maybe he will one day. But, as common fans of Jeff and Nevermore, can't we at least let the man have fun and cheer him on a bit for fuck's sake?
