Biography
Inspired by his older brother Michael Amott's band Carcass, Christopher began studying the guitar at 14, playing in local bands, and eventually attending music college at age 18. With aggressive, fast vibrato, speedy alternate-picking, and fluid lead lines, Christopher's memorable playing style was crafted after such players as John Sykes, Yngwie Malmsteen, Uli Jon Roth, John Norum, and Michael Schenker.
While attending music school in 1996, Michael asked Christopher to record solos for his new melodic death metal project Arch Enemy. The Black Earth album was released in Japan in 1996, and was an instant hit, receiving regular airplay on Japanese MTV. The band were invited to play Japan in 1997, and it was there that Christopher secured a deal for his Armageddon side project. The project began as a melodic death metal band, similar in style to Arch Enemy, but with a more conceptual feel to the lyrics. Armageddon released their first album Crossing the Rubicon on W.A.R. records in 1997. The album featured Peter Wildoer and Martin Bengtsson, who would also go on to record Stigmata with Arch Enemy in 1998. The Stigmata album was again a success in Japan, and was the first Arch Enemy album to be released in the USA, on Century Media records.
With Arch Enemy gaining ground worldwide, Christopher would go on to release Burning Bridges and Burning Japan Live 1999, both in 1999, then take a well deserved break until the latter part of 2000, when Armageddon released their second album Embrace the Mystery on Toy's Factory records in Japan. This time featuring a "melodic" singer, and more of an overall power metal feel, the album was a drastic shift from the straight ahead melodic death metal of Crossing the Rubicon, and marked Christopher's desire to branch out of the "extreme metal" genre.
In 2001, Arch Enemy were joined by new singer Angela Gossow, and the band reached new heights in worldwide popularity with the release of Wages of Sin. After completing an exstensive world tour with Arch Enemy, Christopher returned to his Armageddon project, and released Three in 2002 on Toy's Factory records in Japan. This time featuring Christopher on lead vocals, the album was almost purley a power metal effort, focusing on the melodic singing and guitar work of Christopher.
Arch Enemy released Anthems of Rebellion in 2003, and again embarked on a world tour. In 2005, the band entered the studio to record Doomsday Machine, but immediately after the recording, Christopher left Arch Enemy. Christopher later stated that he "wasn't feeling creative musically" in Arch Enemy, and that he "just wasn't into (the band) anymore."
Christopher spent the next two years teaching music in Sweden, as well as attending a university. It is currently unknown if he will return to his Armageddon project, but he says that he still "plays guitar constantly, several hours a day", but also says that "If I do some kind of record it won't be metal" But of course he has changed his mind with that (making the new arch album). [1]
In March 2007 Christopher announced his return to Arch Enemy as a permanent member. He re-joined the band near the end of the songwriting process for the next album, which has been completed.
In 2010, Christopher released his first solo album entitled Follow Your Heart, exclusively as a digital album. He is currently writing Arch Enemy's next album, Khaos Legions
Equipment
Christopher Amott is endorsed by Caparison Guitars, Japan. His custom 'Dellinger-CA' guitar (production now discontinued, currently custom made) has two Seymour Duncan Hot Rails pickups in the neck and middle position, and a Caparison bridge humbucker.
Holy Mountain
Christopher Amott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Deeper than the sea
A shelter in the darkest night
Tell me did I move you
The way that you move me
Do you ever think about it?
Came a time
I don't know where to turn
Cause I'm leading, oh
I know one thing
There ain't no holy mountain
There ain't no light up in the sky
Well listen
Last night I had the strangest dream
I was drowning in a violent stream
Sometimes things ain't what they seem
Witches laughter fill the air
On the shore, you were standing there
The crucifix broke in my hand
Came a time
When you left me cold and bare
I don't know where to turn
Cause I'm leading, oh
I know one thing
There ain't no holy mountain, yeah
There ain't no light up in the sky
-Solos-
The song "Holy Mountain" by Christopher Amott seems to touch on the depths of emotion and relationships. The opening stanza suggests that the singer is enamored with the individual in question, calling them "brighter than a sunrise" and "deeper than the sea". The singer is searching for a connection and hoping that they've made an impact on the other person, saying "tell me did I move you, the way that you move me?". However, there seems to be some tension or distance between the two as the singer mentions being left "cold and bare" and feeling lost without direction. The chorus offers a commentary on the realities of life, stating that there is no "holy mountain" or divine intervention to save us or make our problems disappear.
Line by Line Meaning
Brighter than a sunrise
Referring to something, likely a person or a feeling, that is brighter and more positive than even the happiest or most beautiful of natural phenomena
Deeper than the sea
Describing something that is extremely profound, complex, or emotional, surpassing the depth of the vast ocean
A shelter in the darkest night
Referring to the comfort and safety provided by someone or something during times of great difficulty or pain
Tell me did I move you
Asking if the singer has had a significant impact on the listener's emotions, thoughts, or behavior
The way that you move me
Describing the profound and powerful emotional impact the listener has had on the singer
Do you ever think about it?
Asking if the listener thinks about the impact they have had on the singer and the depth of connection between them
Came a time
Referring to a significant point in time, often negative or difficult
When you left me cold and bare
Referring to a time when the listener abandoned the singer and left them feeling empty and exposed
I don't know where to turn
Expressing confusion and uncertainty about what to do or where to go next in a difficult situation
Cause I'm leading, oh
Acknowledging that the singer is in charge of their own life and destiny, even in difficult times
I know one thing
Asserting a belief or insight that the singer has gained through experience or reflection
There ain't no holy mountain
Describing a sense of disillusionment or disappointment with spiritual or religious concepts that were once seen as sacred or awe-inspiring
There ain't no light up in the sky
Expressing a feeling of hopelessness or despair, as if even the most positive or transcendent aspects of life have been extinguished
Well listen
An urgent or emphatic way of commanding the listener's attention, often before communicating something important or profound
Last night I had the strangest dream
Describing a surreal, vivid, or symbolic dream that held significant meaning or emotional resonance for the singer
I was drowning in a violent stream
A metaphor for feeling overwhelmed, helpless, or in danger of being consumed by negative or chaotic forces in life
Sometimes things ain't what they seem
Acknowledging that reality can be complex and unpredictable, and that appearances can be deceiving
Witches laughter fill the air
Depicting a spooky or eerie atmosphere, often associated with supernatural or mystical elements
On the shore, you were standing there
Depicting the image of the listener as a constant presence in the singer's life, even in times of trouble or uncertainty
The crucifix broke in my hand
Symbolizing a crisis of faith or a rejection of traditional religious beliefs, often as a result of traumatic or difficult experiences
Contributed by Liam A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.