Angela Gossow

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Angela Gossow

Gossow on stage in 2006
Background information
Birth name Angela Nathalie Gossow
Born 5 November 1974 (1974-11-05) (age 37)
Origin Cologne, Germany
Genres Melodic death metal, thrash metal, death metal
Occupations Singer-songwriter, manager, journalist
Instruments Vocals, guitar, accordion
Years active 1991–present
Labels Century Media
Associated acts Arch Enemy, Mistress, Asmodina
Website www.archenemy.net
www.angelagossow.com

Angela Nathalie Gossow (born 5 November 1974, in Cologne, Germany) is the lead vocalist for the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy. Her previous bands include Asmodina and Mistress. She is considered to be one of the few successful female metal singers to use growling as her primary singing style. Her main influences are Jeff Walker of Carcass, David Vincent of Morbid Angel, Chuck Billy of Testament, John Tardy of Obituary, Chuck Schuldiner of Death, Dave Mustaine of Megadeth and Rob Halford of Judas Priest.[1]

Contents

[edit] Early life

Angela Gossow was born to orthodox Christian parents in Cologne, Germany and had 3 siblings. She was 17 when her parents got divorced. Further financial troubles came in when their business went bankrupt. Being anorexic and bulimic further added to her woes.[2] It was at this time that she decided to move out of home and join the metal band Asmodina. After graduation she joined an advertising company as a trainee, specializing in marketing. She simultaneously began studying economics. In 1997 the band Asmodina split and Gossow formed another band: Mistress.

[edit] Career with Arch Enemy

Gossow joined Arch Enemy in November 2000, after former lead singer Johan Liiva was removed from the band.[3] She had previously interviewed guitarist Michael Amott for a German webzine. While interviewing Amott, Gossow gave him a demo that she described as a "poor quality" video of a performance at a club. When the band sacked then-vocalist Johan Liiva in 2000, Arch Enemy called in Gossow for an audition. Amott said that "she wiped the floor with all the other contenders."

Angela Gossow (2007) in São Paulo, Brazil

Gossow provides the voice for the recurring character, Lavona Succuboso in the animated television show Metalocalypse. According to an interview with Musiikki TV at the Frostbite Festival 2009, Gossow did guest vocals on the Astarte album Demonized, on the song "Black at Heart".

Gossow is among a small number of females to front as a death metal singer. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range, with a death growl.[4] She is a vegan[5] and politically considers herself an anarchist.[6] She is an atheist.[7] Since 2008 she is a manager for Arch Enemy and Spiritual Beggars.

Gossow is taking private vocals and piano lessons and is working in close conjunction with noted vocal coach Melissa Cross. She is also featuring on Melissa Cross's 2nd DVD release The Zen of Screaming 2[8] released by Melissa Cross. Apart from being on the cover pages of many leading magazines, she was also voted the "best singer" and "shining star" at the Burrn! magazine awards in 2002.[9]

[edit] Discography

[edit] With Asmodina

  • Your Hidden Fear (Demo, 1991)
  • The Story of the True Human Personality (Demo, 1994)
  • Promo 1996 (Demo, 1996)
  • Inferno (1997)

[edit] With Mistress

  • Mistress (Demo, 1998)
  • Worship the Temptress (Demo, 1999)
  • Party in Hell (Demo, 2000)

[edit] With Arch Enemy

[edit] Guest appearances

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Johan Liiva
Vocalist for Arch Enemy
since 2000
Incumbent
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