Listen to Arch Enemy’s New Crossover Jam, “The Leader (of the Fuckin’ Assholes)”

Update, 10:14 a.m.: Metal Injection tells me this is a cover of an old song by The Shitlickers! Sorry for not being cool enough to know that. I’ve added the original track below the Arch Enemy version.

Lasting barely more than a minute in length, Arch Enemy’s new song, “The Leader (of the Fuckin’ Assholes),” is like nothing the band has ever done before; it’s not the larger-than-life, hooky melodeath for which AE are known, but, rather, a straight-up crossover thrash song. And as much as you might miss the anthemic choruses of songs like “We Will Rise” and “Nemesis,” you’ll have to admit — this is still pretty good!

Presumably, this song is a one-off experiment, not the beginning of a whole new direction for Arch Enemy. It would be kinda stinky if they got Jeff Loomis in the band just in time to stop doing epic guitar solos.

Check out “The Leader (of the Fuckin’ Assholes)” below, courtesy of Decibel. The website for our favorite metal mag doesn’t make it clear if this song is part of their flexi disc series or will appear on Arch Enemy’s new album, Will to Power, which comes out September 8 on Century Media. But I’m sure fans will have a chance to own it sooner or later.

https://youtu.be/O-g_Iw7m_Q4