Every once in a while, a band will come along that never disappoints, releasing consistently solid albums de force, touring non-stop, and never failing to draw the audience into their performance, treating them like extended band members, and gripping them in an intense, fist-pounding tango of musical solidarity, until the final note of the evening rings out before fading into a true metal memory.

That is my definition of Arch Enemy.

The melodic death metallers ignited the North American Tyrants of Evil Tour in the U.S. in late January, before driving the carnage into the Canadian west, including two shows in Alberta, one each in Edmonton and Calgary, Alta.

The Feb. 2 performance at Calgary’s MacEwan Hall started with metal newcomers Mutiny Within, selected for the tour by Arch Enemy vocalist and tour manager Angela Gossow. With their origins rooted in New Jersey, the former Children of Bodom cover band has come along way, and their half hour opening set, featuring original material from their self-titled debut album Mutiny Within [Roadrunner, 2009], was filled with energy, and got the slowly growing audience warmed up for onslaught of sound to follow.

Virgina death metallers Arsis then tuned it down a notch and heavied things up to maximum. Engaging with their highly technical guitar riffs and dizzying solos, the quartet played only a couple of songs of their newest release Starve For The Devil [Nuclear Blast, 2010] including the album opener “Forced to Rock.” Performing only the title track from 2008′s We Are the Nightmare [Nuclear Blast], they treated fans to songs from the early part of the career, namely tunes from A Celebration of Guilt [Earache, 2004] and the EP A Diamond for Disease [Willowtip, 2005]. While not as active on stage as show openers Mutiny Within, their live sound and the energy that emanated was more than enough to hold everyone’s attention, especially those who had been waiting for the band to tour this way for a while. It was great to see vocalist and guitarist James Malone looking healthy and fully embraced by the music.

Exodus. Where to begin? The music here speaks for itself. Drawing on three decades of material, and the influence of many talented band members throughout the years, the California thrashers knows why they’re up on that stage and don’t quit until the set is done. With songs from nine full length albums to choose from, Exodus treated fans to a number of tunes from the band’s 1985 debut Bonded By Blood, such as “A Lesson In Violence” and “Strike of the Beast.” Playing one other song from that era, “The Toxic Waltz” from 1989′s Fabulous Disaster [Relativity Records], the remainder of Exodus’ set included newer tracks from Tempo of the Damned [Nuclear Blast, 2004], Shovel Headed Kill Machine [Nuclear Blast, 2005] and 2007′s The Atrocity Exhibition… Exhibit A [Nuclear Blast]. It will be interesting to hear the set they choose when they pass through Alberta again this month in support of fellow Bay Area thrashers Megadeth.

While many came out to see Exodus, you can’t not stay for an act like Arch Enemy. The Swedish quintet pulled out all the stops, treating fans to favourites from their extensive musical catalogue like “The Immortal,” “Dead Eyes See No Future” and “Blood On Your Hands.” Other highlights included Gossow’s never failing stage presence and friendly interaction with the crowd, a sweet drum solo, courtesy of Arch Enemy’s percussionist, Daniel Erlandsson, the ever-crushing bass grooves of Sharlee D’Angelo, and some seriously sick solos by brothers Chris and Michael Arnott. The band is now touring in Europe, but will soon be heading back into the recording studio to lay down material they been writing while out on the road over the past two years.