Gates of slumber-The wretch

Metal Blade
2011

What a road a band takes once they are a few albums in can really depend on the individuals involved and what mood they happen to be in while writing a certain album. Some bands progress or try to while others stay the same course. Then every so often you get an act who goes even another path and that is to go the way of a stripped down sound. That's what we get on the latest from Gates of slumber as they bring some simple even predictable tracks. However the important thing is that this basic style works well in the hands of this band because they wrap the riffs up in layers of fuzzed out heaviness and slowly release them like a beast on a leash. The sound is immense on "Bastards Born", "Day of Farewell", the title track and others. This is pure doom only rigged with a super charged force guiding it along it's bonecrushing path. The tones are so thick and this album begs to be listened to on headphones to really feel the full force crushing your skull. I highly recommended this album.