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.

Track #5
Christopher Amott Lyrics

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Walking down a dirt road
Carrying a heavy load
The parade has passed me by
I think I saw a flower die

Walking down a busy street
My heart is heavy
I drag my feet

See the beggar on the ground
What he's seeking, hasn't found

Dog barking in the alley below
I'm like him, dont you know?
Looking for love
In a run down town
Looking for you
Make a smiling man frown

Listen baby
Make a smiling man frown

I went on a ten year journey
To see what's on my mind
Came back just the other day
Didn't like what I did find

I'll keep an open mind
As long as you treat me right
I'll be forgiving
If you'll be accepting

Listen baby
If you'll be accepting

-Solo-

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Christopher Amott's song Track #5 describe a sense of isolation and searching for meaning in a world that seems to have moved on without the singer. The opening two lines describe a lonely figure walking down a dirt road, burdened by a heavy load, watching as a parade passes them by. The singer laments how they "think [they] saw a flower die," possibly symbolizing a loss of hope or beauty in the world around them.

As the song continues, the singer moves from the isolated path to walking down a busy street, but their heart is still heavy, and they feel weighed down as they watch a beggar who cannot seem to find what they are looking for. The metaphor of the dog barking in the alley below is used to tie the singer's search for love and meaning in with the animal's primal desire to be loved and accepted. The chorus then pleads for someone to listen, the singer desperate for connection.

In the second verse, the singer describes a ten-year journey to search for meaning, but returning to find themselves still unfulfilled. The offer to keep an open mind and be forgiving if the other person is accepting shows that the singer is willing to try to build a meaningful connection if they feel that they too will be valued.

Line by Line Meaning

Walking down a dirt road
Moving on a path that's unpaved

Carrying a heavy load
Bearing the weight of hardship

The parade has passed me by
Watching others march forward without me

I think I saw a flower die
Noticing the decay around me

Walking down a busy street
Traveling through a crowded place

My heart is heavy
Feeling burdened emotionally

I drag my feet
Moving through life with difficulty

See the beggar on the ground
Observing someone in need

What he's seeking, hasn't found
Struggling to find what he needs

Dog barking in the alley below
Hearing the noise of hardship near

I'm like him, dont you know?
Experiencing the same feelings