In common with many Swedish metal bands, the members of Arch Enemy brought strong pedigrees to the line-up. Vocalist and original bass player Johan Liiva had previously played in Carnage (4) with guitarist Michael Amott, who had also enjoyed a spell with Carcass and played concurrently in the Spiritual Beggars. His younger brother Christopher Amott and drummer Daniel Erlandsson completed the original line-up. Arch Enemy came together initially after Amott turned down an offer for a Carnage reunion shortly after the demise of Carcass. Black Earth, released on the Wrong Again label in 1996, was the result of much rehearsing and frantic recording sessions at the Studio Fredman. The album was was particularly well received in Japan and the band undertook its first tour there with British doom outfit Cathedral before returning to Europe. A move to the Century Media label preceded 1998's Stigmata, with Arch Enemy recruiting bass player Martin Bengtsson to allow Liiva to concentrate on vocals, and drummer Peter Wildoer replacing the absent Erlandsson for the sessions. The band once again used producer Fredrik Nordstr”m, and the commercial success of the album spread their reputation beyond Europe and Japan into North America. Sharlee D'Angelo (ex-Mercyful Fate) replaced Bengtsson on 1999's Burning Bridges. The album proved to be a cohesive blend of progressive and death metal influences. Angela Gossow was recruited to help record 2002's Wages Of Sin and eventually became a full-time vocalist for Arch Enemy.

Line-up:
Angela Gossow - Vocals
Michael Amott - Lead Guitar
Daniel Erlandsson - Drums
Sharlee D'Angelo - Bass
Christopher Amott - Lead Guitar