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55,344 posts since 7/17/2002
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Posted on 8/22/2009 at 9:42:07 AM
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The Gates of Slumber - Hymns of Blood and ThunderReview by John Pegoraro (StonerRock.com) Rise Above Records Release date: September 29, 2009 If The Gates of Slumber's sophomore album, Suffer No Guilt, proved they could write undeniably great songs and follow-up Conqueror showed they were able to write a consistent album, Hymns of Blood and Thunder demonstrates they can do both at the same time. What that means is Hymns of Blood and Thunder has a hard-hitting immediacy that doesn't let up until the last note. Opening track “Chaos Calling” packs a stronger punch than Suffer's “Angel of Death” and Conqueror's “Trapped in Web” combined, no small feat. It's a classic metal juggernaut, mixing brute force and grandiosity with some absolutely killer riffs. Second track “Death Dealer” follows the same pattern, and if you hadn't known the band started off as “true doom” (which is either a genre or a state of mind, depending on who you ask), it'd be easy to assume this three-piece is more indebted to an era of music – late 70's to early 80's metal – than any one specific genre. Hell, even the first slow number – the excellent “Beneath the Eye of Mars” - veers off the beaten path with an effective synth-driven passage. It's far from dogmatic in execution – I'd go so far as to say it's almost prog-doom. Of course, The Gates of Slumber hasn't completely turned its collective back on its roots. “The Doom Of Aceldama” and “Descent into Madness” are both lumbering, lengthy epics. What sets them apart, though, is a finely honed sense of dynamics. The former's got a great chorus that builds to a majestic, galloping outro. Think early Priest and Maiden and you're on the right track. The pacing of the first half of “Descent” comes dangerously close to plodding, but is again saved by a strong vocal line. And the song completely redeems itself at the end, when it goes semi-acoustic (with more of that great synth) and pushes vocalist/guitarist Karl Simon's emotive solo to the front. It's a “calm before the storm” moment, and true enough, from there, “Descent” returns (or maybe I should say “descends”) back to the heavy. It's those sort of creative flourishes – along with some seriously top notch songwriting - that elevates Hymns of Blood and Thunder to greatness. Whether it's the subtle layering of guitars (there are more acoustic moments than you'd think), the guest female vocals on “The Mist in the Mourning” (another one of those Conan-inspired, neo-classical tracks that the band's so fond of), or the way the band so effortlessly mixes might with majesty (throw "The Bringer of War" and "Blood and Thunder" onto that list), The Gates of Slumber have truly arrived into their own with Hymns of Blood and Thunder. If they're to be judged by one album, let this one be it. Highly recommended.
URL: http://www.myspace.com/thegatesofslumber
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I`m never going to work another day in my life
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3,283 posts since 3/23/2005
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Posted on 8/22/2009 at 11:53:36 AM
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Fucking A, can't wait to hear this.
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602 posts since 4/5/2004
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Posted on 8/23/2009 at 6:29:40 PM
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cannot freaking wait to hear this, Conqueror is/was so amazing, hope this is half as good!!!
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55,344 posts since 7/17/2002
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Posted on 8/23/2009 at 7:15:50 PM
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It's better. Easily.
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I`m never going to work another day in my life
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602 posts since 4/5/2004
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Posted on 8/24/2009 at 2:06:16 AM
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awww shit, just blown my man-muck!
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4,718 posts since 4/15/2000
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Posted on 8/24/2009 at 10:38:15 AM
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Do these guys ever sleep?
Looking forward to it, as usual.
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Folks back home been eatin` clay and makin` babies as far back as I ca
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14,934 posts since 10/24/2000
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Posted on 8/24/2009 at 11:34:27 AM
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I can't wait to get this one...
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If you`re hungry, why not try a piece of your friend?
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2 posts since 8/24/2009
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Posted on 8/24/2009 at 2:24:11 PM
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WAIT.....how were you able to review this? Is it on a blog/torrent already?
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55,344 posts since 7/17/2002
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Posted on 8/24/2009 at 2:30:32 PM
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One of the perks of being the editor-in-chief is that I get sent promo CDs from labels and PR companies. The trade off is that I have to write what I think of those CDs in reasonably clear and grammatically sound English. Unless, of course, the CD is awful, in which case I'll more than likely pawn it off on one of the staff writers. Which is in itself another perk of being editor-in-chief.
And in answer to your unasked question, no, I don't upload to blogs and/or bit torrents. It's a personal choice.
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I`m never going to work another day in my life
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3,653 posts since 8/14/2001
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Posted on 8/24/2009 at 7:08:41 PM
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lookin forward to this one forsure, theres some live footage on youtube of them on this tour doing alot of the new songs, and they sound great. i get where this band is going, and i love it!
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2 posts since 8/24/2009
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Posted on 8/24/2009 at 11:26:23 PM
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It all makes sense now.
I've heard the song on their myspace and its really good. Can't wait to get this.
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3,283 posts since 3/23/2005
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Posted on 8/25/2009 at 4:15:13 PM
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Just got the new Decibel in my mailbox, made this their lead review and rated 9/10...I can almost hear the combined groaning of COTD fanboys pissing about fixed-geared trendies...
Killer music and a stellar work ethic, these dudes deserve all the praise and more IMO.
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4,266 posts since 11/2/2005
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Posted on 8/27/2009 at 11:06:03 AM
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Hoping the local shop has this- tehy prolly will-Mags. (Col. Ahia) is pretty good on the metal. I dug the Decibel review it wasn't as focused as ARZ was on the music, but i really appreciated their attitude about the value of the band and music. If the songs are as strong as you say this should do some numbers.
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"some thrash to remember, some thrash to forget".- Kant
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25,024 posts since 5/8/2000
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Posted on 10/7/2009 at 11:22:14 PM
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Checked out some samples and, for what it is, it kicks alotta ass. Old school headbangers who refuse to stop headbanging will drool.
Not my thing anymore, but very well done. I can just picture the entire bedenimed and balding COTD Nation simultaneously stroking out due to excessive fist-pumping and headbanging in their squalid flats.
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14,934 posts since 10/24/2000
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Posted on 10/8/2009 at 9:21:24 AM
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Album of the year, hands down. It would take a colossal effort to top this.
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If you`re hungry, why not try a piece of your friend?
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602 posts since 4/5/2004
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Posted on 10/8/2009 at 10:14:21 PM
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after 4 proper spins this just doesnt blow my balls off the way Conqueror did, it'll probably grow on me but doubt it will ever topple Conqueror as the most awesome GoS album!
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717 posts since 1/26/2005
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Posted on 10/9/2009 at 6:24:39 AM
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I love this album...I didnt think it was as good as conqueror at first but FUCK after a few days of listening I now know the truth...this is the best thing they have done! This band is the best thing true doom has to offer in ages.
As for album of the year...its WAAAYYY to hard for me. Too much shit I love this year..
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2,257 posts since 11/15/2000
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Posted on 10/16/2009 at 3:28:30 PM
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Reading comprehension is a lost art.
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717 posts since 1/26/2005
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Posted on 10/17/2009 at 1:43:44 PM
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I love how a band can play music that is a s t y l e that in 2009 is not so fresh and new and still make one of the best albums of the year. Kills....I know not fresh and new is kind of the point....but they make it sound like some forgotten classic haha. I love 70ds s t y l e metal and heavy rock and so do these guys! How can you go from vitus too pink floyd and make it sound amazing...GATES OF SLUMBER know how. Conqueror and Hymns are top notch metal. Even my wife who is more into stonerrock,90ds hardrock and newer metal love the album and thinks beneath the eyes of mars as the best vocals.
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32,194 posts since 12/13/1999
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Posted on 11/7/2009 at 4:54:24 AM
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Personally I'll always root for these guys as they're real champions of a sound and era when metal had a well honed, crafted, regal quality. And I feel like the growth they exhibit (and really sort of apologize for in the liners) is impressive, but I think this album is a bit on the spotty side. When it's good, it's really inspiring, but too much of it feels a bit like treading water or rushing to get material out in order to strike while the iron is hot (just off the acclaimed 'Conqueror', big tours of USA, Europe) for me to give it the unqualified thumbs up. Still, they're a formitable band. If you combined the best half of this with the best half of Conqueror, you would have a stone-cold classic. Too much in too short of time has been done here.
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Iommi, Butler, Ward, Osbourne
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