At the gates

At the Gates is a Swedish death metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. The band was one of the main progenitors of the "Gothenburg Sound" or "melodic death metal". Before their first disbandment in 1996, At the Gates released four albums, including Slaughter of the Soul (1995), which has been seen as a milestone in the mid-'90s Swedish death metal scene. After reuniting for a one-off tour in 2008, the band reformed once more in 2011, and have since released three more albums: At War with Reality (2014), To Drink from the Night Itself (2018), and The Nightmare. of Being (2021).

History

Beginnings (1990–1994)

At the Gates was formed in the late 1990s by former members of the death and black metal group Grotesque, who recorded a first EP titled Gardens of Grief for the record label Dolores Recordings. of this first EP made the record label Peaceville Records sign the band, and they released their debut album, The Red in the Sky Is Ours in 1992.

In 1993, after the recording of their second studio album, With Fear I Kiss the Burning Darkness, founding member and guitarist Alf Svensson left the band, to dedicate himself to the art of tattooing, illustrating graphic novels and his solo electronica-opera-black metal project, Oxiplegatz. Alf Svensson was quickly replaced by former House of Usher guitarist Martin Larsson, whom the band knew from selling and trading underground tapes. The band continued to tour Europe, and was filmed for a Headbangers Ball special in Nottingham, England, in July 1993.

At The Gates was born from the ashes of a band called Infestation, who in 1990 released the demo When Sanity Ends. When the band dissolved, At The Gates was formed. Parents of the style called Gothenburg sound for having originated in that Swedish city that later resulted in its fusion with black metal, along with other artists such as Dissection. At The Gates combined brutal vocals with a very high-tempo rhythm section. But nevertheless, what most distinguished them from other bands of the time was their heavy guitar section, which brought the novelty of including melodies at the same time. Their particular structures and fluidity allowed them to distance themselves from other melodic styles such as heavy metal, becoming the precursors of Gothenburg Death Metal. His most transcendental work was the album "Slaughter of the Soul" of the year 1995.

They appeared on the album "Metal Militia" in 1993 performing the song "Escape" under the pseudonym Snotrocket. They did not use their original name due to contractual problems.

After releasing their last official album in 1995, the band members followed their own paths, and even formed successful groups like The Haunted. Vocalist Tomas Lindberg dedicated himself to working on various projects such as The Great Deceiver, The Crown and Lock-up, alternating his work as a singer with that of a teacher. In an interview with EMP Live, Lindberg spoke about his career as a school teacher in his hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden. Tomas commented: "My students are very excited because I am in a band, they are not metalheads, they are like 11 or 12 years old. But they came to the show when we played in Gothenburg, they went backstage and took pictures with the band, so I guess I could be the cool teacher, which I'm not trying to be"

When asked if he was the "great" With his students, Tomas said & # 34; No, I'm probably the good teacher, I hope, we have a good relationship. I believe that all education starts with a good relationship with the students"

Reunion (2007-2008)

On October 18, 2007, At The Gates announced their reunion followed by several gigs in mid-2008, including Getafe Electric Festival, Roskilde Festival, Ruisrock, Wacken Open Air, Graspop Metal Meeting, Sweden Rock Festival, Gods of Metal, Hellfest, Castle Festival, and Bloodstock Open Air, as well as a tour of Japan, with The Dillinger Escape Plan, Into Eternity, Pig Destroyer, and Mayhem in May 2008.

2010 onwards

In December 2010, the band announced a second reunion in their hometown (Gothenburg, Sweden), with plans to play Metaltown 2011. That same month, they announced they would play Bloodstock Open Air in Derbyshire, England.

In 2012 they played at the Resurrection Fest in Viveiro (Galicia), they performed in Mexico City at the Circo Volador, emblematic venue for events of this musical genre, as well as they did their South American tour Suicidal Final Tour.

At War With Reality

At War With Reality was released on October 27, 2014. After 18 years, and featuring the classic line-up of Slaughter Of The Soul, this album is influenced by the literary movement that emerged among the years 1960 and 1970, known as the Latin American boom. In the song titles it is possible to see references to works by writers such as Ernesto Sabato, Jorge Luis Borges, Carlos Fuentes and Gabriel García Márquez.

To Drink From The Night Itself

To Drink From The Night Itself was released on May 18, 2018 through Century Media. Produced with Russ Russell (Napalm Death, The Haunted, Dimmu Borgir, at Parlor Studios, UK. Features concept artwork created by Twilight 13 Media's Costin Chioreanu, who previously worked with the band on their latest record.

It was also the departure of one of its founding guitarists. Singer Tomas Lindberg spoke to Decibel magazine about how the departure of former At The Gates guitarist and its main songwriter Anders Björler affected the band's sound.

"It is true that there is a big change in the lineup," he said. "The thing to keep in mind is that Jonas Björler [bass] wrote 40 per cent of 'Slaughter Of The Soul' and 'At War With Reality'. Some people seem to forget this. They just assume that the lead guitarist is the sole songwriter. Jonas had to take on a lot more responsibility this time, but he and I have had a really great and creative time writing this album. There may be a slight change in direction, perhaps, but At The Gates fans shouldn't be. Worried, it's still an At The Gates record. In any case, it's heavier and more death metal than the previous one".

Lindberg said that new At The Gates guitarist Jonas Stålhammar came to the band too late to participate in the writing process for the new album. 'This is basically me and Jonas [Björler] as far as writing goes. All the guys have contributed in some way, but the main writing comes from Jonas and me. Most of the songs were already in the final stages when Jonas Stålhammar joined, so there wasn't much time for him to contribute, but we hope to have him more involved next time. Saying that, his solos will of course be written by himself & # 34;.

Musical style, influences and legacy

At The Gates plays a style of melodic death metal, death metal and progressive death metal.

Tomas Lindberg, vocalist quotes Bathory, Death, Discharge, Judas Priest, Voivod, King Crimson, Mercyful Fate, King Diamond, Metallica, Possessed, Slayer, Dark Angel and Morbid Angel. Other influences are Goblin, Neu!, Magma, Thin Lizzy, Wishbone Ash, Iron Maiden, Trouble, The Obsessed and Exodus. Tomas also credits Swedish bands like Europe, Candlemass, Emtombed, Afflicted, Merciless, Mercy and Gotham City.

At The Gates considered one of the bands that consolidated the sound of the "New Wave of Swedish Death Metal" or "Gothenburg Sound" from bands like In Flames, Arch Enemy or Soilwork and from the American metalcore of The Black Dahlia Murder, As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage or All That Remains.

Bands that cite As The Gates as an influence include The Black Dahlia Murder, Killswitch Engage, Avenged Sevenfold, All That Remains, God Forbid and Bring Me The Horizon

Awards

At the Gates was nominated for a Swedish Grammy Award for the album Slaughter of the Soul in 1996 along with Fireside for Do Not Tailgate, Meshuggah for Destroy Erase Improve, and Yngwie Malmsteen's Magnum Opus.

In February 2015 At the Gates won a [Swedish Grammy Awards|Suecoo Grammy Award]] for their 2014 comeback album At War with Reality.

In June 2015 he also won the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Inspiration Award.

Members

Timeline

Discography

Albums

• The Red in the Sky is Ours (1992)
• With Fear I Kiss the Burning Darkness (1993)
• Terminal Spirit Disease (1994)
• Slaughter of the Soul (1995)
• Final suicide Art (2001 compilation)
• At War with Reality (2014)
• To Drink from the Night Itself (2018)
• The Nightmare of Being (2021)

EP

• Gardens of Grief (1991)
• Cursed to Tour (1996)

Simple

• Kingdom Gone (1992)
• The Burning Darkness (1993)
• Terminal Spirit Disease (1994)
• Blinded By Fear (1995)

Bootlegs

• Live in Manchester (5 February 1996)
• Live in Nottingham at Rock City (9 February 1996)
• Live in Cleveland, Ohio at the Agora Ballroom (March 1996)
• Live in Houston, Texas at Abyss (17 March 1996)