Album review: The Gates Of Slumber – The Gates Of Slumber

The Gates Of Slumber had already carved a name as one of the most important doom outfits of their time before their tragic end in 2014, following the sudden death of bassist Jason McCash. Firmly old school, theirs was doom in its truest and most heavy metal form, steeped in the influence of Vitus and Sabbath, with fantastical lyrical tales drawn from Robert E Howard and Lovecraft.

Following the end of the band, mainman and riff extraordinaire Karl Simon put together excellent new band Wretch, but in 2020, after many offers from festival organisers to play again under the Gates banner, they returned in 2020 for Germany’s Hell Over Hammaburg bash, with original drummer Chuck Brown.

The first new album under the Gates name in 13 years is everything that made them so formidable in the first place. Karl is a guitarist like Tony Iommi or Vitus’ Dave Chandler, for whom enormous, instant-classic doom riffs are second nature. Thus, the lolloping guitar that drives opener Embrace The Lie forward is instantly recognisable as him. It’s also prime Gates Of Slumber, genius in its simplicity, but staggering in its power.

It’s a similar thing on We Are Perdition, before the main thrust gives way to an almost eerie sparseness, while the rollocking Full Moon Fever boasts one of the heaviest things ever to bear their name. Meanwhile The Fog, with its snarled, reverby vocals, is as dense and haunting as its name, featuring wild leads that show again just what a natural the man is at this stuff. Lyrically, it's a more world-weary, cynical view than previously we saw, but it also adds something gnarled and wise-with-age to the mix.

A full re-entry from The Gates Of Slumber, with new music, was always going to be very welcome. That they’ve returned with an album that underscores everything that’s earned them their name is a genuine triumph from one of the doom underground’s finest bands. Welcome back.

Verdict: 4/5

For fans of: Saint Vitus, High On Fire, Pentagram

The Gates Of Slumber is out now via Svart