Indiana’s doom warriors The Gates Of Slumber are back with their first new album in thirteen years and that’s some of the best news this year. The band formed around guitarist and vocalist Karl Simon called it quits in 2014 after the untimely demise of bassist Jason McCash but the great Hell Over Hammaburg festival persuaded Karl to reform The Gates Of Slumber for a performance in 2020. Until then, with the help of original member Chuck Brown on drums and Steve Janiak on bass, the guys have silently worked on the six new traditional doom hammers included in the new, self-titled album.
Embrace The Lie starts as if these thirteen years have never existed, with those trademark FAT riffs, ominous atmosphere and a stomping tempo. We Are Perdition follows in the same vein, with some traditional heavy metal melodies incorporated well, before Karl absolutely demolishes everything with an otherworldly solo in Full Moon Fever. At Dawn starts with a pure Sabbath-worshipping riff, then raising the tempo a bit, entering into early Celtic Frost territory and topping it off with the short but very efficient chorus only Karl Simon is capable of delivering.
The last two songs are the longest in the album, with John Carpenter-inspired The Fog once again exploiting the tried and tested early Sabbath formula, slowing processions down to a dirge, with another great solo thrown in. The Plague’s lyrics could make Chuck Schuldiner proud with the gruesome events described, the tempo raised a bit at the middle of the song, making room for Chuck Brown’s skills to shine. There is an early Trouble influence here as well, but overall, The Gates Of Slumber are weaving their own spell with an unmistakable sound and presence. The Plague ends with the fastest instrumental section in the album, heads threatening to fall off headbanging. This is pure, old school, authentic metal, mostly doom in nature, but making nods towards classic bands like Manilla Road or Celtic Frost. There was a void in the doom metal scene after 2014 and now, The Gates Of Slumber shows how it’s done, smashing heads and ears with their obliterating heavy metal assault. Thanks Santa!
8/10
The Gates Of Slumber in Facebook
The Gates Of Slumber is out on November 29th via Svart Records and can be ordered from HERE
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