Full Dynamic Range Remastered edition of At The Gates fourth studio album.
When it was first released, At the Gates' Earache debut Slaughter of the Soul was regarded as a generally excellent example of Gothenburg-style melodic death metal, and certainly the band's best and most focused album to date. But the commonly held view was that it wasn't anything all that special, either. After all, it lacked the intricate twin-guitar leads of In Flames, the complex song structures of Dark Tranquillity, the progressive artistry of Edge of Sanity, or even the rock & roll underpinnings of latter-day Entombed. Slaughter of the Soul was more obviously rooted in American thrash (especially Slayer) than its peers, and didn't seem to be consciously trying to break new ground…

As one of the godfathers of the Gothenburg sound, you just can’t deny the impact that Dark Tranquillity had on the face of metal music when bursting onto the scene back in 1989. Some 27 years of service, 10 albums, and many imitators later, and the Swedes are still going strong as they unleash album number 11.
Despite founding member and main songwriter Martin Henriksson departing the fold earlier this year, it’s pretty much business as usual for Dark Tranquillity here as thrashy opener Encircled kicks things off in fine style and the likes of the storming Neutrality and The Pitiless go on to whip up a melodeath storm…

Melodic death metal pioneers Dark Tranquillity, part of Gothenburg, Sweden's unholy trinity with In Flames and At the Gates, are the only one of those bands able to maintain anything like an original sonic identity, despite personnel changes and the evolution of recording technology. Moment is Dark Tranquillity's 12th studio album. Though its cover bears another stunning Niklas Sundin design, it is the band's first outing without him as lead guitarist. He has been replaced by veterans Johan Reinholdz (Nonexist, Andromeda) and Christopher Amott (Arch Enemy, Armageddon). The set was produced by keyboardist Martin Brändström, mixed by David Castillo and Jens Bogren, and mastered by the latter. Also compelling is the band's sense of economy here. Though 50-minutes long, none of the set's 12 tracks reaches the five-minute mark…

Over the past fifteen years, Colorado's Allegaeon have built themselves a unique place in the musical landscape, forcing both technicality and melody to the forefront as they create tumultuous and riveting death metal. With "Damnum" (2022), their sixth full-length, they push everything further into the extreme, and in the process deliver the definitive Allegaeon record, which while forging into new territory, takes everything compelling about the band and enhances it.

At 52-minutes, “Moonflowers” is an eight-song affair that drives deep into the heart of Swallow The Sun main songwriter Juha Raivio’s disconsolate soul. From the dramatic “Enemy” and the grim “This House Has No Home” to the delicate “Moonflowers Bloom in Misery” and the beauteous “The Fight of Your Life,” “Moonflowers” is as rewarding and dynamic as it is accomplished and intimate. That it features Cammie Gilbert (Oceans of Slumber), Antti Hyyrynen (Stam1na), and Trio NOX - who perform a re-arranged classical version of “Moonflowers” in a Finnish church, which comes as a bonus album to some of the album formats - are more reasons to hold Swallow the Sun’s latest leap into the unknown in the highest regard.

The Withering is presented as a conceptual album focusing on the decadence & annihilation of humanity due the most probable causes: natural catastrophes, pandemics, humanity’s own actions, etc. Each song tells a story about one of those causes and how to struggle with suffering, death, fears, hopes and face the inevitable end.
In the musical aspect, the band grew up to a more open & progressive sound but with the original melodic doom/death parts that earned the status of “underground cult band” in the past by some specialized media & fans, with strong rhythm section and melancholic melodies accompanied by dual vocal performance, guttural and whispers. Not the typical doom band. Not the usual melodic death metal record…

Thirty-one years after their inception, with uncounted global tours under their belt and fourteen albums deep in their career, AMORPHIS still proves to be the musical fountain of youth, an extraordinary band constantly reinventing itself without abandoning its mystical roots. With “Halo”, they deliver an astonishing album that deserves to be played everywhere, transcending the realms of metal and rock by its sheer profoundness and musicality.

The Swedish heavy metal legends' seventh full-length effort, Nightmare of Being sees At the Gates continuing to tweak their Gothenburg-style death metal with wild abandon. A blistering chimera of discord and melody, the ten-song set builds on the promise of its predecessor, 2018's To Drink from the Night Itself, delivering deft arrangements, surprising sonic detours, and lyrics steeped in existential dread. Softly fingerpicked classical guitar sets the table on the crushing opener "Spectre of Extinction," which pairs the band's signature guitarmonies and galloping blast beats with Tomas Lindberg's choked but powerful death-metal howl…

Could this actually be European death metal's bid for a pop culture coup? In Flames already has a reputation as one of the best, most melodic death metal bands to come to power in the Euro-metal regime that has swept through countries like Sweden and Norway since the early to mid-'90s. However, with Reroute to Remain, Strömblad and the gang have now unexpectedly announced that they are also undoubtedly the most experimental of their brethren, and furthermore, that they have set their sights not just on broader horizons, but perhaps even complete world domination as well. Maybe that sounds like a huge exaggeration, but even one spin of the 14 songs here will prove that it very possibly may not be. It's obvious that the band has been listening heavily to the popular American metal (nu-metal, rap-metal, etc.) acts of the moment, because most of their venturing heads in that direction…

Hungry for some modern melodic death metal with ridiculously catchy pop influences? Well, your dinner has just been served. This steaming nine-course setting is called "Origin" and it is honoringly brought to the table by renowned Finnish metal outfit, Omnium Gatherum. Omnium Gatherum have been offering remarkable pieces of melodic death metal for already twenty-five shining years. While storming through these ferocious decades, they have convinced worldwide legions of heavy metal lovers by releasing unstoppable musical onslaughts and touring relentlessly all over the world.

It has been 8 long years since the last record, and HYPOCRISY fans can feel the itch. WORSHIP is 11 tracks of precise, ferocious musicianship. Commonly inspired by the fusion of the modern and the ancient, HYPOCRISY has once more found a way to combine innovative ideas with classic sound in order to deliver something metalheads can enjoyably consume with awe and brutal vigor. As usual, all recording and mixing took place at Tägtgren’s Abyss Studio AB in Sweden while mastering was completed by Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers Audio Mastering. Designed by artist Blake Armstrong (KATAKLYSM, IN FLAMES, CARNIFEX, etc.), WORSHIP’s artwork speaks to the history of the relationship between humanity and extraterrestrials.

The '90s and 2000s have also seen a wave of Nordic death metal bands that are highly melodic, and Finland's Insomnium is part of that trend. The most extreme thing about Since the Day It All Came Down is the vocal style; lead singer/bassist Niilo Sevänen sings in a deep, guttural, demonic-sounding growl that exemplifies the stereotypical image of death metal singing. But other than that, this 2004 release isn't so extreme. Musically, Insomnium owes a lot to '80s power metal favorites like Queensrÿche, Iron Maiden, Savatage, and King Diamond - like those headbangers, Insomnium provides metal that is forceful yet musical and intricate - and early thrash is an influence as well. If Sevänen favored a more conventional vocal style, this CD would probably be considered power metal or thrash instead of death metal/black metal…

With just a few notes into this new album we find DESTINITY continuing in the steps of their latest release “Resolve in Crimson” with their unique breed of Melodic Death Metal combining deep growls, punchy riffs, catchy melodies and powerful orchestration that has been the band’s trademark sound throughout the years. A continuity but not a remake ! In Continuum must be the band’s most sophisticated release to date. Next to blasting drums, frenzied tremolo picking and guttural vocals come ambient sections giving space to rich orchestrations and lush harmonies weaving a somber and brooding atmosphere. Each song depicts a sonic landscape that will take the listener to unexpected places that are surprising yet always coherent, making you want to continue to hear what comes next. “In Continuum” released worldwide on Friday 15th October 2022 through Crimson Productions/Season of Mist. Recommended if you like: INSOMNIUM, DARK TRANQUILLITY, AMON AMARTH, MORS PRINCIPIUM EST…