Jeff Loomis leaves Arch Enemy

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Breaking up AoD was his best move yet. Painfully bland music, and those vocals are...something.

Broderick is the perfect live fill in guy, he can play anything, but from what I've seen of his songwriting, he's better suited to playing someone else's riffs and just writing leads

Great music can make me look passed questionable vocals, but yeah, AoD was mid in both departments. Woof.

It's why I'm wanting Loomis to work with someone that can also write great music to bounce off of. My 2 Nevermore records were done when there was a co-writer and it wasn't just the Dane/Loomis show.

Like I'm not talking shit about those records. Politics, Dead Heart, Enemies are all great... But DNB and Godless Endeavor? God tier fucking shit.

Edit: conquering dystopia too. Another album where he thrives with a killer co-songwriter

 

[p0ke]

Arch Enemy used to be one of my favourite bands, but now they're boring as fuck. Saw them live in a festival this summer and it was like watching a DVD. Everything scripted with zero audience interaction.

Same here. I saw them live in 2006 (back when Angela was still in the band and Fredrik Åkesson played lead guitar, before Chris rejoined and Fredrik joined Opeth) and that was one of the best live shows I've ever seen, but then I saw them again a couple of years ago and it just felt like a group of people doing their job.

I liked everything they put out up to Doomsday Machine, but then after that I felt like the melodies became too cheesy and the riffs started becoming generic. Though, lately I've realized it must've been a bit of a "first time" thing for me, as I was just getting into heavier music when I discovered them. The melodies were always cheesy and the riffs generic I also had a bit of a crush on Angela.

One thing I always really liked about AE though, is the drumming. It just makes me wanna air drum along every time I hear it.

 

[NoodleFace]

Arch Enemy was my fav band for some time and saw them a ton of times live. Seeing them with Chris is such a different experience than other players who have been in the band. He's supremely underrated.

 

[Emperoff]

Same here. I saw them live in 2006 (back when Angela was still in the band and Fredrik Åkesson played lead guitar, before Chris rejoined and Fredrik joined Opeth) and that was one of the best live shows I've ever seen, but then I saw them again a couple of years ago and it just felt like a group of people doing their job.

Yup. Saw them with that exact line up as well (with Gojira as openers). Amazing show.

 

[gnoll]

Some of their older stuff is fine/okay. If I ever need some dumb melodic metal in the background I don't mind putting on some songs. For example Enemy Within and Ravenous I remember listening to sometimes.

But I once tried to listen to the whole Doomsday Machine album (Nemesis is decent!) and it didn't work at all. Too uninteresting music for a full album I guess.

And I heard some of their later singles and wow, that was just terrible.

Nevermore's music is on a whole other level compared to AE.

 

[BusinessMan]

I hated it at first, but over time I realized this also. His voice is what made the band unique.

Same boat here. Didn’t care for them at first, but I like them now as well as his work in Sanctuary.
I cannot say the same about exodus though, aside the Rob Dukes era. I can’t get into the screeching granny vocals.

 

[bracky]

Loomis and Broderick are fucking insaaaaaaaane live! I love how you can hear the tonal difference between Jeff's EMG 707 active pickups vs Broderick's (probably) DiMarzio passive pickups - sterile & cold vs smooth & silky.

I was in the front row for this. The memory still gives me chills!

 

[Lorcan Ward]

That opening riff is the best Arch Enemy riff they never wrote. Jeff was a perfect fit who's songwriting abilities would have really shaken up a band that had stagnated. Instead he signs as a session contract and doesn't get to contribute. Did it also include a part where he wasn't allowed pursue any other music projects? He said he was working on his follow up solo album 5 years ago and didn't do any other projects outside of AE which is crazy for a musician of his calibre.

 

[TheShreddinHand]

That opening riff is the best Arch Enemy riff they never wrote. Jeff was a perfect fit who's songwriting abilities would have really shaken up a band that had stagnated. Instead he signs as a session contract and doesn't get to contribute. Did it also include a part where he wasn't allowed pursue any other music projects? He said he was working on his follow up solo album 5 years ago and didn't do any other projects outside of AE which is crazy for a musician of his calibre.

I know right, he talked about that solo album so long ago and it was pretty well known he signed a three record deal so hopefully we’ll get it now. And wasn’t Alissa also working on a solo album that she said Jeff wrote a ton of stuff for?

 

[ScatteredDimension]

That opening riff is the best Arch Enemy riff they never wrote. Jeff was a perfect fit who's songwriting abilities would have really shaken up a band that had stagnated. Instead he signs as a session contract and doesn't get to contribute. Did it also include a part where he wasn't allowed pursue any other music projects? He said he was working on his follow up solo album 5 years ago and didn't do any other projects outside of AE which is crazy for a musician of his calibre.

That is such an awesome track and the whole has such bangers like My Acid Words and Godless Endeavor ofc.

 

[Velokki]

That opening riff is the best Arch Enemy riff they never wrote. Jeff was a perfect fit who's songwriting abilities would have really shaken up a band that had stagnated. Instead he signs as a session contract and doesn't get to contribute. Did it also include a part where he wasn't allowed pursue any other music projects? He said he was working on his follow up solo album 5 years ago and didn't do any other projects outside of AE which is crazy for a musician of his calibre.

Dead on, Lorcan!

 

[TheBloodstained]

I truthfully wish he was back at Schecter and they just made him a U.S. sig finally and bring his South Korean's models back.

That would hurt my wallet, but I totally agree. My 2008 Schecter C7 Jeff Loomis FR is such an incredible guitar, and it's probably THE guitar I will keep for the rest of my life.

If that would ever happen and he designed some sort of Banshee Mach-7 signature...!!!

 

[car_has_crashed]

Thank god, that dudes way more talented than for the stuff he did in AE.

From Arch Enemy's Facebook page.


"Arch Enemy announce amicable split with Jeff Loomis, enlist guitarist Joey Concepcion.

Arch Enemy and long running member Jeff Loomis have amicably parted ways.

Arch Enemy founder and chief songwriter Michael Amott comments: “It’s been a joy having Jeff play with Arch Enemy for close to a decade, we truly had a blast touring around the world together! We were friends long before we played music together and we remain even closer buddies now, which feels great. We respect that he’s in a place and time in life where he needs to step out of Arch Enemy and we all wish him nothing but the best moving forward. The only constant is change, and this is one of those moments where things had to change a little to move forward in a satisfactory way for everyone involved. With all that said, we are extremely pleased to announce that we have recruited Joey Concepcion as our new guitarist! Joey’s a phenomenal talent and has been a friend of the band for a long time, he even filled in for Jeff on a couple of European festival shows back in 2018. We have touring and a myriad of other exciting things coming up on the horizon with Arch Enemy for 2024 and beyond and are thrilled to move forward, creating the next chapter and keeping the Metal flowing!”

Jeff Loomis comments: “My time in Arch Enemy has come to an end. I have had a great time (9 years!) of playing and touring with them, but now it’s time to enter a new chapter in my life. I wish Alissa, Michael, Sharlee and Daniel the very best and consider them all lifelong friends. I’d also like to thank the crew that have always been nothing but kind to me. Their hard work and dedication towards the band is incredible, and we wouldn't be able to put on the great shows without them. Thank you again for all your support over the years and Happy New Year”.


Finally, Loomis has left the band. I know he's a great writer, but he was held back in Arch Enemy and Michael Amott wouldn't let him write songs, or very little.

I'm excited to see what Jeff does next, maybe more Conquering Dystopia with Keith Merrow?

 

[BenSolace]

One video recently uploaded showing his new Jackson Kelly model with a Hipshot fixed bridge was a subtle and funny "fuck you" to AE...

"Hello, I'm Jeff Loomis of Arch Enemy" and proceeds to play old school Nevermore hahaha

Good god that guitar in a V, superstrat, tele etc. would be a must buy for me, and I haven't bought a new guitar in nearly 10 years!

 

[MFB]

Good god that guitar in a V, superstrat, tele etc. would be a must buy for me, and I haven't bought a new guitar in nearly 10 years!

Uh, there IS a Superstrat 7 string version of it?

Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist™ SL7 | Guitars

Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist™ SL7, Ebony Fingerboard, Satin Black

www.jacksonguitars.com

 

[BenSolace]

Uh, there IS a Superstrat 7 string version of it?

Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist™ SL7 | Guitars

Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist™ SL7, Ebony Fingerboard, Satin Black

www.jacksonguitars.com

You're right, but it's the 6 string and fixed bridge elements that would tip me over the edge.

 

[xxxyyy]

Great news!
Arch enemy was a very good band, but when Liiva left, everything crumbled. I just listen to the first 3 albums (and the japanese live one) and stay as far as I can from the rest.

 

[Manurack]

Uh, there IS a Superstrat 7 string version of it?

Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist™ SL7 | Guitars

Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Soloist™ SL7, Ebony Fingerboard, Satin Black

www.jacksonguitars.com

I think he was moreso referring to the hardtail bridge. I was going to comment the same thing about the Jackson superstrat, then realized it has a 1500 series Floyd Rose.

 

[Emperoff]

(and he got one of the most best anchor-boat heavy jackson usa models ever produced )

FTFY

 

[Surveyor 777]

You're right, but it's the 6 string and fixed bridge elements that would tip me over the edge.

Yeah, I would love it if Jackson produced his 7-string Soloist in a 6-string version (both trem and hardtail). I have his 7 and love it.