Earlier this year, Arch Enemy guitarist Michael Amott announced the return of original singer Johan Liiva for a new project, Black Earth, which performed Arch Enemy's first three albums material live on stage in Japan this month. They kicked off the tour with a sold out show in Tokyo on May 17th 

Liiva has checked in with the following update:

"The tour of celebrating the 20th anniversary of the first Arch Enemy album in Japan is over. I am very happy that it went so well, but never expected it to pass as fast as it did. Almost two weeks... swooosh... just like that! Seven shows in six different cities throughout this fantastic country. Sapporo tonight was amazing, especially as it was the final gig and also that AE never played here ever, so it was a magical thing in many ways. Thank YOU all who came to the shows, all who worked in the venues and around the stage.. some fans came to 2-3 shows, a girl I spoke to had tickets to ALL of the shows!! It's been one helluva ride.. and we are coming home. Thank you and much love."

Fan filmed video from the May 17th kick-off show is available below. The setlist on the night was as follows:

"Black Earth"
"The Immortal"
"Dead Inside"
"Pilgrim"
"Sinister Mephisto"
"Tears of the Dead"
"Diva Satanica"
"Angelclaw"
"Let the Killing Begin"
"Bury Me an Angel"
"Dark Insanity"
"Eureka"
"Idolatress"
"Cosmic Retribution"
"Demoniality"
"Transmigration Macabre"
"Time Capsule"
"Fields of Desolation"

Encore:
"Aces High" (Iron Maiden cover)
"Beast of Man"
"Silverwing"
"Bridge of Destiny"

Arch Enemy releases with Johan Liiva: Black Earth (1996), Stigmata (1998) and Burning Bridges (1999).

Black Earth line-up:

Michael Amott – guitar
Christopher Amott – guitar
Johan Liiva – vocals
Daniel Erlandsson – drums
Sharlee D’angelo - bass

Check out the exclusive Black Earth feature on BraveWords here.

Photo courtesy of Michael Amott's official Facebook page.