Review: In sinuous and liquid sound At the Gates layer sonic texture with fast repetition of shifting notes forming melodies which synergize into resonant sound. Racing tremelo playing allows the weaving of longer themes than rock music would tolerate into death metal within a style foreseeing the melodic construction of black metal. Guitars while delicately distorted maintain a complexity of lead rhythm matched by racing beats and serpentine power chord double-picking. Torn throat high-pitched vocals are counterpoint to complex song structures like the work of Atheist frontman Kelly Schaefer. Three live tracks of violent earlier material in a technical Swedish death metal sound round out this listening experience with energy. Articulate in both subtle motions and driving power this furthest wave of Swedish melodic death metal reigns for its inspired and morbid moods.
Production: Clear and smooth, nonstudio tracks alive with resonance.
EVILMUSIC
metal, ambient, hardcore and noise music
Review: In sinuous and liquid sound At the Gates layer sonic texture with fast repetition of shifting notes forming melodies which synergize into resonant sound. Racing tremelo playing allows the weaving of longer themes than rock music would tolerate into death metal within a style foreseeing the melodic construction of black metal. Guitars while delicately distorted maintain a complexity of lead rhythm matched by racing beats and serpentine power chord double-picking. Torn throat high-pitched vocals are counterpoint to complex song structures like the work of Atheist frontman Kelly Schaefer. Three live tracks of violent earlier material in a technical Swedish death metal sound round out this listening experience with energy. Articulate in both subtle motions and driving power this furthest wave of Swedish melodic death metal reigns for its inspired and morbid moods.
