Guitarist Michael Amott talked about Arch Enemy’s approach to guitars, explaining to Loudwire (transcribed by UG):
“Sometimes we’ll tune a little bit different, but for like 99% of the time we use C standard tuning.
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“We did that to get more clarity in the riffs. We play 6-string guitars for obvious reasons, it’s the only guitar that’s cool. [Laughs]
“I don’t even know what [djent] is. [Laughs] That’s not rock ‘n’ roll. Rock ‘n’ roll is 6-string guitars.
“It’s actually difficult to play 6-string guitar for me. [Laughs] C standard tuning is I think heavy enough to be heavy, but it gives a little bit more clarity in the riffs.”
During a separate UG interview, guitarist Jeff Loomis talked about adapting to the six-string policy, telling interviewer Justin Beckner:
“For Arch Enemy, I’m using a six string guitar in C standard.
“I haven’t played six-string guitar in many years. I’ve been known for being a seven-string player since the early 2000s.
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“So picking up a six string again and playing it in C Standard with Arch Enemy was really different for me. It actually took me a few months to get used to.
“The whole aspect of playing both six and seven string is sometimes a bit difficult for me. It all works out in the end somehow.”
During the rest of the Loudwire chat, Michael was asked whether it’s true that guitarist Nick Cordle – who was in Arch Enemy between 2012 and 2014 – left the band by just walking out during concert, to which he replied:
“He had a flight to catch. [Laughs]
“That was a difficult time, I don’t really know how to comment on that. But that was a pretty surprising situation that happened. It kind of unfolded there on tour.
“But I have a massive respect for him. We made a great record together [2014’s ‘War Eternal’], and it didn’t really work out on the touring part.
“So he left, and that was the third return of my brother. [Laughs] I called my brother, and he came and he finished that tour.”