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.
Tibet
Christopher Amott Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's the only way
Vast plains
The map shows grey
Sky runner
Holy dagger in hand
Celestial being
Oh, when will you land?
Follow the tributary
Seeking passage to the East
Chasing the aerial shadow
Head of knowledge untrusting
In barren lands
The mind will grow
Been here many years
But I've nothing to show
Obscure discourse
Remains unhead
Buried beneath
Oh, too deep to disturb
Follow the tributary
Seeking passage to the East
Chasing the aerial shadow
Head of knowledge untrusting
-Solo-
Follow the tributary
Seeking passage to the East
Chasing the aerial shadow
Head of knowledge untrusting
-Solo-
The lyrics of Christopher Amott's Tibet are enigmatic and full of imagery. The first verse talks about traveling by foot through vast plains, implying the vastness and remoteness of the location. The use of a holy dagger and the mention of a celestial being give the impression that the journey is one of spiritual importance, perhaps a pilgrimage or a quest for enlightenment. The lines "Oh, when will you land?" and "Chasing the aerial shadow" hint at a sense of longing and anticipation for something that may be out of reach or mystical.
In the second verse, the lyrics suggest a sense of isolation and intellectual pursuit. The singer is seeking passage to the East, chasing "the head of knowledge," yet is untrusting of what they may find there. The barren lands and lack of progress in their own mind contrast with the idea of seeking knowledge from outside sources. The "obscure discourse" buried deep beneath the surface may represent hidden or undiscovered knowledge that the singer is seeking, but cannot access.
Overall, the lyrics of Tibet seem to be about a personal journey of seeking meaning, either through spiritual or intellectual pursuits. The sense of mysticism and the use of abstract imagery adds to the song's introspective mood.
Line by Line Meaning
Travel by foot
Walking is the only way to proceed
It's the only way
There are no other routes available
Vast plains
Expansive stretches of land lie ahead
The map shows grey
The map is featureless and provides little guidance
Sky runner
A mythical being who can traverse the skies
Holy dagger in hand
The singer is armed and ready for danger
Celestial being
A creature from the heavens
Oh, when will you land?
The artist is waiting for a divine intervention
Follow the tributary
Use the river as a guide
Seeking passage to the East
Trying to find a way to the other side
Chasing the aerial shadow
Following a metaphysical trail
Head of knowledge untrusting
The artist is hesitant to trust those in power
In barren lands
The environment is harsh and unforgiving
The mind will grow
The singer will learn and develop
Been here many years
The singer has been stranded here for quite some time
But I've nothing to show
No progress has been made
Obscure discourse
Mysterious and esoteric teachings
Remains unhead
The singer is unable to understand them
Buried beneath
The teachings are hidden away
Oh, too deep to disturb
The artist cannot access them
-Solo-
Instrumental break
Follow the tributary
Use the river as a guide
Seeking passage to the East
Trying to find a way to the other side
Chasing the aerial shadow
Following a metaphysical trail
Head of knowledge untrusting
The singer is hesitant to trust those in power
-Solo-
Instrumental break
Contributed by Emily R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
toodiesel
Love this track, if you guys dig Chris enough to search for him, he's put out three Armageddon albums (he sings on the last one) before this solo album. Criminally underrated guitarist.
basssungwoo
such a SOULFUL song. i can't believe it...
Pete Hawthorne
I would just LOVE to see Christopher do a solo tour!
koksal ozgur
Just sad that he does not deserve the attention he deserves to this great music
Isterographos
Thank you sooo much dude... have you got the lyrics??
JBShreds
This is why Chris is one of my idols. :)
Neil Manrique
excellent song. .certainly is very talented Christopher Amott any feeling songs great!!!!! I'm from chile Greetings
Metalpower
Chris, the best!
gabriel messias
Rock in roll is our motto ! !
asphinxkat
What? people criticize him for not playing with emotion? I didn't know this. Have those people heard "Marching on a dead end road"? He composed it and it's my fave arch enemy instrumental.