ITP V.021 REVIEW: AT THE GATES: "THE NIGHTMARE OF BEING"

 

BAND:  AT THE GATES (GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN)

GENRE: MELODIC DEATH METAL

LABEL: CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS

 RELEASE DATE: 7/2/2021

TITLE:"THE NIGHTMARE OF BEING"

   PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG): 

"WITH THE PANTHEONS BLIND" (EP), 1/19/2019 via CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS. 

"THE MIRROR BLACK", (EP), 1/11/2019 via CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS. 

"TO DRINK FROM THE NIGHT ITSELF", 5/18/2018 via CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS. 

"LANGUAGE OF THE DEAD", SPLIT WITH VOIVOD, 3/31/2015 via .CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS. 

"AT WAR WITH REALITY", 10/28/2014 via  .CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS. 

SPLIT WITH DECAPITATED, 4/19/2014 via EARACHE RECORDS. 

. "LIVE IN KRAKOW", (LIVE RELEASE), 12/10/2010 via EARACHE RECORDS. 

"ULTIMATE COLLECTOR'S BOX SET",  4/6/2010 via EARACHE RECORDS. 

"PURGATORY UNLEASHED-LIVE AT WACKEN" (LIVE RELEASE), 3/22/2010 via EARACHE RECORDS. 

"THE FLAMES OF THE END" (3DVD VIDEO), 2/22/2010 via EARACHE RECORDS. 

"MAXIMUM METAL", (SPLIT VIDEO WITH MORBID ANGEL, DEICIDE, MUNICIPAL WASTE), 2006, via EARACHE RECORDS. 

"SUICIDAL FINAL ART" (COMPILATION), 6/26/2001 via PEACEVILLE RECORDS. 

SPLIT WITH GROTESQUE, 6/12/2001 CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS. 

"CURSED TO TOUR", SPLIT WITH NAPALM DEATH, 1996 via EARACHE RECORDS. . 

SPLIT WITH CEREMONIAL OATH, 1996, via MORBID NOIZE PRODUCTIONS. 

 "SLAUGHTER OF THE SOUL", 11/14/1995 via EARACHE RECORDS. .

SPLIT WITH CATHEDRAL, 1995 via  EARACHE RECORDS. 

"TERMINAL SPIRIT DISEASE", 7/18/1994 via PEACEVILLE RECORDS. 

"WITH FEAR I KISS THE BURNING DARKNESS", 5/7/1993 via DEAF RECORDS. 

"THE RED IN THE SKY IS OURS", 11/1992 via .DEAF RECORDS. 

 

 

.

 

 

BEST RELEASE(S)   "SLAUGHTER OF THE SOUL" (1995), "WITH FEAR I KISS THE BURNING DARKNESS" (1993), "TO DRINK FROM THE NIGHT ITSELF" (2018), "THE MIRROR BLACK" (EP, 2019)

 

 

 

AT THE GATES: "THE NIGHTMARE OF BEING"  TRACK LISTING: 

1."SPECTRE OF EXTINCTION"

2. "THE PARADOX"

3. "THE NIGHTMARE OF BEING"

4."GARDEN OF CYRUS"

 5."TOUCHED BY THE WHITE HANDS OF DEATH"

6. "THE FALL INTO TIME"

7. "CULT OF SALVATION"

8. "THE ABSTRACT ENTHRONED"

9. "COSMIC PESSIMISM" 

10. "ETERNAL WINTER OF REASON" 

 

   ITP RATING: ****
PRODUCTION: ****1/2
SONGWRITING: ****

PERFORMANCE: ****

AT THE GATES are a melodic death metal band founded by JONAS BJORLER , his twin brother  (ex guitarist) ANDERS and (vocalist) TOMAS LINDBERG. . JONAS BJORLER also founded Swedish thrash warriors THE HAUNTED with his brother ANDERS and drummer ADRIAN ERLANDSSON . 

After the release of the bands classic and influential 1995 album  "SLAUGHTER OF THE SOUL", AT THE GATES broke up (1996), to return in 2010.  

Here ITP V.021 has AT THE GATES new release "THE NIGHTMARE OF BEING". 

 

AT THE GATES "THE NIGHTMARE OF BEING" kicks off with "SPECTRE OF EXTINCTION", with an beautiful acoustic into, the electric guitars pick up the melody..And then "SPECTRE OF EXTINCTION" is off to the races with blastbeats, heavy and melodic riffing. "SPECTRE OF EXTINCTION", is definitely a banger, sure to get a good pit going as the track features some good solos. 

AT THE GATES  "THE PARADOX" blasts off with blasts beats and diverse riffing. TOMAS LINDBERG's vocals remind me of former CRYPTOPSY, vocalist MIKE DISALVO, not exactly death metal vox, but hard core barking.  

At 3;53, "THE PARADOX" features an excellent rhythm guitar riff seguing into solos.. "THE PARADOX" ends with a sick riff and a light synth note. 

The title track from  AT THE GATES latest release is a metal ballad of sorts with heavy, melodic, DJENT and soft parts.

 AT THE GATES "GARDEN OF CYRUS" is an accessible hard rock track featuring a SAXOPHONE solo! LINDBERG'S vocals enter halfway through "GARDEN OF CYRUS"

AT THE GATES ."TOUCHED BY THE WHITE HANDS OF DEATH" enters with symphonic and orchestral moments before blasting off with excellent melodic metal riffs.. ."TOUCHED BY THE WHITE HANDS OF DEATH" features good drumming by ADRIAN ERLANDSSON (also of THE HAUNTED). 

 AT THE GATES "THE FALL INTO TIME" enters dramatically with ominous symphonic elements, good  drumming , and underlining melodies to cap off a good metal track. At 4:12 into "THE FALL INTO TIME" AT THE GATES show off an excellent rhythm section topped with jazzy and prog guitar solos. 

 AT THE GATES. "CULT OF SALVATION" is a mid temp, atmospheric melodic metal track. At 2:14 "CULT OF SALVATION" features a piano scale as the guitar segues the piano melody. "CULT OF SALVATION" segues into LINDBERG'S spoken word with a light keyboard melody and closes with violin. 

 AT THE GATES. "THE ABSTRACT ENTHRONED" features death metal riffing with blastbeats and melodic guitar lines for a well written metal banger. At 3:48, "THE ABSTRACT ENTHRONED" breaks down into dramatic symphonic elements.before picking up the pace with guitar solos to end the track. 

.AT THE GATES  "COSMIC PESSIMISM"  enters as bluesy alternative rock consolidated with LINDBERG'S spoken word and heavier (and better) vocals. "COSMIC PESSIMISM" experiments with death and roll and is perhaps AT THE GATES most accessible track to date.

. AT THE GATES "THE NIGHTMARE OF BEING" closes with "ETERNAL WINTER OF REASON" enters as mid pace hard rock with a prominent riffing with understated melodies. 

 

AT THE GATES "THE NIGHTMARE OF BEING"  is an excellent release nearly ruined by TOMAS LINDBERG'S YELPING vocals.LINDBERG'S vocals are neither here nor there. LINDBERG'S vocals  are not death metal vocals, not straight up barking but high pitched yelping, enough to wish AT THE GATES "THE NIGHTMARE OF BEING" would be instrumental

 

However, the music featured on AT THE GATES "THE NIGHTMARE OF BEING"  is the bands most diverse to date. From Melodic metal, hard rock, alternative rock, symphonic elements and yes a SAXOPHONE solo, AT THE GATES challenge themselves for their most accessible and versatile release to date. .   

AT THE GATES "THE NIGHTMARE OF BEING" expands on the bands previous full length ("TO DRINK FROM THE NIGHT ITSELF) while also dipping it's toes into new musical and progressive waters. There is enough versatility in songwriting to please metal newbies and bangers to keep the old fans engaged.

.    .   .

 

 

 

 AT THE GATES "THE NIGHTMARE OF BEING" features excellent and progressive production, quality songwriting and enough heavy riffs to get a pit going. 

Does  AT THE GATES "THE NIGHTMARE OF BEING" rival the bands classic release "SLAUGHTER OF THE SOUL" ?  MAYBE. 

Aren't you glad AT THE GATES re-united? 

 

 

   ITP RATING: ****
PRODUCTION: ****1/2
SONGWRITING: ****

 PERFORMANCE: ****

 AT THE GATES: "THE NIGHTMARE OF BEING" :

 https://spak-individualthoughtpatterns.blogspot.com/2021/07/at-gates-streaming-nightmare-of-being.html

 

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