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.
Kilimanjaro
Christopher Amott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I hear it's beautiful
This time of year
We can go there
On an aeroplane baby
There's snow up on the peak
Don't lose your magic baby
Don't hang out
With that crowd
Those bars ain't where it's at
When you hold it up to the light
It's kinda pretty afterall
Dream of love
That's stronger than anything
Can't ya hear it call?
We can swim to
The middle of the lake
Our jump the highest tower
It's black and white
But the colours are bright
Whenever you're around
Oh
-Solo-
Do Kilimanjaro baby
I hear it's beautiful
This time of year
We can go there
On an aeroplane baby
There's snow up on the peak
Oh
The lyrics of Christopher Amott's song Kilimanjaro suggest an invitation to someone to embark on a new adventure, to leave behind the mundane and ordinary life, and pursue something more profound and meaningful. The song talks about the beauty of Kilimanjaro, a well-known mountain peak in Tanzania that serves as a metaphor for the beauty that life can offer when we step out of our comfort zones, explore, and discover new things.
The singer encourages the listener not to lose their magic, not to get stuck in the routine and monotony of daily life, and to break free from any negativity or toxic relationships. The lyrics emphasize the importance of having a dream and striving towards it, of finding something that ignites passion and love within, and holding onto it no matter what.
The final part of the song talks about the endless possibilities that await the listener if they choose to take this journey to Kilimanjaro. Whether they want to swim to the middle of the lake or jump from the highest tower, everything seems possible, and the colors of life become brighter whenever the other person is around.
Overall, Kilimanjaro is a song that encourages the listener to step out of their comfort zones, embrace uncertainty and change, and seek out the beauty and magic that life has to offer.
Line by Line Meaning
Do Kilimanjaro baby
Let's climb Kilimanjaro together
I hear it's beautiful
I have heard that it is a beautiful place
This time of year
At this particular time of the year
We can go there
We can plan a trip to Kilimanjaro
On an aeroplane baby
We can travel to Kilimanjaro on a plane
There's snow up on the peak
The peak of Kilimanjaro is covered with snow
Don't lose your magic baby
Don't lose who you truly are
Crawl out of your cave
Come out of your shell
Don't hang out
Don't associate
With that crowd
With the people who bring you down
Those bars ain't where it's at
Going to bars is not where it's happening
When you hold it up to the light
When you take a closer look
It's kinda pretty afterall
It's actually beautiful
Dream of love
Think of the possibility of love
That's stronger than anything
Something that has more power than anything else
Can't ya hear it call?
Can't you hear the possibility of love calling out?
We can swim to
We can dive into
The middle of the lake
The center of the lake
Our jump the highest tower
Or we can jump off the highest tower
It's black and white
It's either right or wrong
But the colours are bright
But the possibilities are endless
Whenever you're around
As long as you are with me
Oh
A simple exclamation of emotion
Contributed by Aria M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pete Hawthorne
Love it, Chris is so damn talented!
Amber Johnson
I think this is my fave song!
Luis Rattlehead
wow christopher amott make this wow O_O nice chris !!!
davyd sch
its funny to think that he palys in arch enemy xD
HarryTheGuitar
best elevator music? still a great track though.
Cory Bosse
I was hoping for something good. Like when Jeff Loomis did a solo album. This is just...wimpy.