Angela Nathalie Gossow is a German vocalist, best known as the former lead vocalist for
the Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy.
Her other 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.
Early life Angela Gossow was born to orthodox Christian
parents in Cologne, Germany and had three siblings.
She was 17 when her parents divorced.
Further financial troubles came in when their business went bankrupt.
Being anorexic and bulimic further added to her woes.
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.
Career with Arch Enemy
Gossow joined Arch Enemy in November 2000, after the removal of lead singer Johan Liiva.
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.
After sacking Liiva in 2000, the band called in Gossow for an audition.
Amott later said that "she wiped the floor with all the other contenders."
She then proceeded to record Wages of Sin with Arch Enemy.
On the eve of a 2002 tour, Gossow was diagnosed with nodules, which almost stopped her from
growling.
However, after some vocal therapy, she was able to recover her voice and she proceeded
to begin taking piano and screaming lessons from renowned coach Melissa Cross.
She continues to work in close conjunction with her.
On March 17, 2014, it was announced that Gossow was stepping down as Arch Enemy vocalist in
order to pursue other interests and spend more time with her family.
Gossow chose Alissa White-Gluz from Canadian metal band The Agonist as her replacement,
and will remain business manager for the band.
Other work 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 featuring on Melissa Cross's 2nd DVD release The Zen of Screaming 2 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.
Since 2008 she is the manager for Arch Enemy and Spiritual Beggars.
Personal life Gossow is among a small number of women to
front as a death metal vocalist.
She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range, with a death growl.
She is a vegan and politically considers herself an anarchist, but votes "to make sure the
right-wing doesn't get her vote."
She is an atheist.
Discography With Asmodina
Your Hidden Fear The Story of the True Human Personality
Promo 1996 Inferno
With Mistress Mistress
Worship the Temptress Party in Hell
With Arch Enemy Wages of Sin
Burning Angel Anthems of Rebellion
Dead Eyes See No Future Doomsday Machine
Live Apocalypse Revolution Begins
Rise of the Tyrant Tyrants of the Rising Sun
The Root of All Evil Khaos Legions
Guest appearances Annihilator - Couple Suicide
Astarte – Black at Heart Amaseffer - Midian
Doro - Celebrate Doro - Celebrate
Kalisia - Cybion Never – Questions Within
Rise - Pentagramnation References
External links Official Arch Enemy website
Official Angela Gossow website