Christopher Amott (born November 23, 1977 in Halmstad, Sweden) is a Swedish… Read Full Bio ↴Christopher Amott (born November 23, 1977 in Halmstad, Sweden) is a Swedish guitar player and vocalist, younger brother of Michael Amott and founding member of the Swedish metal bands Arch Enemy and Armageddon.

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.

Lifeline
Christopher Amott Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's a stone in my chest
And it's dragging me down
To the bottom of the ocean
It's cold down there
In Poseidon's lair
At the bottom of the ocean
Fish grow scary and the
Water gets murky

At the bottom of the ocean
Cthulu calls in his crooked halls
At the bottom of the ocean

Someone throw a lifeline
Someone throw a lifeline
Someone throw a lifeline
Cause I don't know if I'll
Make it this time

Yesterday I was flying so high
Wit the birds in the sky
Life's a breeze
Do whatever you please
With the birds in the sky
Milky white clouds
And heavenly shrouds
With the birds in the sky

Lately I've grown
A stone of my own
And I go, and I go
Wherever it takes me

Someone throw a lifeline
Someone throw a lifeline
Oh, someone throw a lifeline
Cause I don't know if I'll
Make it this time

Someone throw a lifeline
Someone throw a lifeline
Oh, someone throw a lifeline

Cause I don't know if I'll
Make it this time

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Christopher Amott's song Lifeline describe the feeling of drowning in despair and hopelessness. The first stanza paints a vivid picture of sinking to the bottom of the ocean, with the weight of a heavy stone pulling the singer down. The imagery of Poseidon's lair, scary fish, and murky water adds to the sense of dread and danger. The reference to Cthulu, a mythical sea monster from H.P. Lovecraft's stories, adds to the dark and ominous tone.

The chorus is a plea for help, with the singer calling out for someone to throw them a lifeline. The second verse contrasts with the first, describing a time when the singer felt free and light, flying with the birds in the sky. But now they carry their own heavy burden, and feel lost and alone. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the feeling of desperation and the need for assistance.

Overall, the song captures the struggle of dealing with mental health issues and the importance of seeking help from others. The imagery of the ocean and flight adds to the metaphorical weight of the lyrics, making them even more relatable.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a stone in my chest
There is a heavy weight in my heart

And it's dragging me down
It is making me feel sad and hopeless

To the bottom of the ocean
To a very dark and deep place

It's cold down there
The place where I feel is very unwelcoming

In Poseidon's lair
A reference to the Greek god of the sea

At the bottom of the ocean
The place where I feel trapped

Fish grow scary and the
The environment is becoming more and more frightening

Water gets murky
Everything becomes unclear and uncertain

Cthulu calls in his crooked halls
A reference to a monster in the Lovecraftian universe, representing the overwhelming fear and hopelessness one can feel

Someone throw a lifeline
I need help to get out of this dark place

Cause I don't know if I'll
I am uncertain of my ability to overcome this challenge

Make it this time
I fear that I might not be able to recover

Yesterday I was flying so high
There was a time where I felt happy and carefree

Wit the birds in the sky
A metaphor of freedom and happiness

Life's a breeze
Everything was going smoothly and effortlessly

Do whatever you please
I felt like I was in control of my life and my decisions

Milky white clouds
A visual representation of the beauty and tranquility of that time

And heavenly shrouds
A metaphor for feeling protected and blessed

Lately I've grown
Recently, I have started to feel

A stone of my own
A burden of my own making

And I go, and I go
I feel lost and directionless