Absolute cult Swedish blackened death metal classic re-issue! From their ashes rose At The Gates!
The songs on this release are from several different periods in the
band's evolution, so the sound can vary quite drastically. Earlier songs
really bring to mind Sepultura's Bestial Devastation in terms of
production and playing, with quite a few mistakes that are easily
overlooked in favour of the absolutely badass rawness of this album. The
songs are rather technical, both in terms of structure and riffing,
which weave asphyxiating tentacles around your neck and drag you into
this nightmarish journey. "Angels Blood" is an especially long, epic
number with quite a few changes of tempo and mood, and is
counterbalanced by short, intense songs like "Spawn of Azathoth" and
"Torn from the Cross," both of which feature sweltering, churning riffs.
Tomas Lindberg's performance isn't too deathly, nor screechy, but a
perfect, schizoid mix of the two, barking out a incessant malevolent
lyrics to terrorize you.
Lets call this proto-death metal, because it's not quite the death metal
you normally associate with Sweden, and has a lot of totally kick as
thrash riffs. Imagine if Morbid Angel had taken a different, slightly
slower route after Abominations of Desolation, and inserted a bit of
early Sepultura and Sodom into their mix! This is evil, twisted death
metal, the way it is supposed to be done, and is absolutely mandatory
for all fans of Scandinavian metal in general.
