Stigmata received mixed reviews by critics, who compared it with the previous
Arch Enemy album,
Black Earth. Jason Anderson of
Allmusic noted that "as often happens with highly anticipated follow-ups,
Stigmata disappointed some fans with what some called a more restrained sound and lesser material" and criticized the singer
Johan Liiva and the addition of the session drummer
Peter Wildoer. Nevertheless, Anderson praised
Michael Amott stating that "these problems are really minor when balanced against Amott's massive playing and songwriting, so while
Stigmata is a fraction off from the band's debut form, Arch Enemy still delivers some nice
melodic death metal on the sophomore effort." Paul Schwarz of
Chronicles of Chaos first noted that "Arch Enemy have made an interesting, and slightly unexpected, progression from their
Black Earth debut of two years ago". He commented that the band "have not drawn their 'melody' from pop or even folk" and what characterises the difference between both albums "can be summed up in three words:
classic heavy metal." Schwarz finished with a good review writing that "overall
Stigmata is a great album and one of the best directions Arch Enemy could have chosen to follow after their critical success with
Black Earth." Critics Paul Schwarz and EvilG mentioned that the sound resembles the
Carcass album
Heartwork. Schwarz compares it to
Black Earth: "Opener "Beast of Man" kicks in with searing riffing and thundering double bass, which creates the false impression that the new material will be far more like the
Heartwork era Carcass sound which characterised much of
Black Earth. Arch Enemy have, in fact, gone the opposite way - in terms of heaviness, not quality -, and produced an album which utilises far more melody, especially in its choruses, than
BE did." ==Track listing==