Arch Enemy’s Alissa White-Gluz Discusses Joining The Band, Angela Gossow’s Support + More
Arch Enemy's new frontwoman Alissa White-Gluz was the guest on Full Metal Jackie’s radio show this past weekend. She opened up about what it's like to join Arch Enemy after being a fan, the support that the band's former vocalist and current band manager Angela Gossow provides and more. Check out Full Metal Jackie’s interview with Arch Enemy's Alissa White-Gluz below:
It's Full Metal Jackie, bringing you two full hours of metal. On the show with us for the very first time, the new singer of Arch Enemy -- Alissa White-Gluz, how are you?
I'm good, how are you?
Doing great. Nice to have you on. Obviously a lot of excitement about this new Arch Enemy record. 'War Eternal' is coming out on June 10. It's your first album with Arch Enemy and also the first one with Nick Cordle on guitar. Was there a lot of discussion about maintaining any particular style? Or were you both encouraged to really infuse a lot of yourselves into the music?
We were both encouraged to bring our strengths to the band. Michael, the main songwriter, I think the style remained the same naturally because most of the band is still the same. No one tried to shape us or change us in any way, we were chosen to be a part of this band for our -- what we contribute to music and what our strengths are. So we brought that to 'War Eternal.'
Alissa, what excites you most about now being able to influence another generation of metal fans with the very same band that actually inspired and influenced you?
Well, [laughs] -- it's a great band. I feel very fortunate to be in a position to where I can continue to make music and have people appreciate it. I have a lot of people I think are important to me, a lot of different causes I like to talk about also. When I hear from fans that they not only like the music but they're also very touched by the lyrics, or they also learned about a specific cause because of me, that's really rewarding. So, yeah, its quite an honor.
Not many vocalists have the situation of their predecessors still being actively involved in the business side of the band, which is the case here with Arch Enemy. Angela is still active on the business front. Does that give you an added sense of security or is there some nervousness that she'll be listening?
No. It's definitely not nervousness, it's security for sure. She knows exactly what's needed for the band. Who can manage the band better than someone who's already been in it? Been there, done that, did all the touring. Plus she's been the manager of the band for a long time. So, it's really a great situation that I have. Angela is still here working with me and the band because she has a lot of wisdom that just some other manager who steps into it really wouldn't know.
Alissa, getting ready to tour the new 'War Eternal' album, what has it been like to rehearse with the band and make those catalog songs yours?
I'm going to go for rehearsals in a few weeks, actually. But I did rehearse them a few months ago and I gained a whole new respect for those songs when performing them with the band. I always appreciated them as a fan, from a listener's perspective. But from a performer's perspective, it's a completely different story. They're very intricate songs. Very really well structured, solid. I want to keep those songs as true to the original as possible.
Alissa White-Gluz from Arch Enemy with us on the show. Again, the new album from Arch Enemy 'War Eternal' is going to be out June 10. Looking forward to hearing some U.S. tour news I'm sure. Alissa, appreciate you being on the show. Best of luck.
Thank you.
Our thanks to Arch Enemy's Alissa White-Gluz for the interview. You can order the band's 'War Eternal' album via iTunes and Amazon. Full Metal Jackie can be heard on radio stations around the country — for a full list of stations, go to fullmetaljackieradio.com.