Style: Melodic death metal
Primary Emotions/Themes: Recounting the tales of an old master, showing the younger generation how things are to be done
Thoughts: My initial reaction to this album was quite negative. I thought the songs were disjointed, and Thomas' vocals were sub par at best. To say that I was disappointed would be an understatement, especially since the previous album was so excellent.
I let the album sit for several months, maybe even a year before revisiting. I didn't want to give up on it so easily, especially on a band as storied as At the Gates. These guys were a pivotal part of my transition into extreme metal, I owed them at least a second chance for that.
Well today is the day for that second chance. I have to say that there is quite a bit more going on here than I ever remembered on my first listen. Yes, the vocals are a bit more strained than before, but they are undeniably Thomas' style. Even though they seem a bit more strained they are not lacking in their normal venom.
The riffs which I thought were odd at first, now have me listening with great intent. The first half of the album shows the band playing to their strengths: melodic death metal with two guitars, dynamic song writing, and various tempos. In a lot of ways this is the direct continuation of the previous album. How I didn't see this before is beyond me.
Where the band begins to truly experiment though is on the second half. Brass is used in multiple songs, I even think I heard an oboe on a couple of the tracks. We even have a saxophone solo sprinkled in. This is fascinating stuff.
When the band does incorporate other instruments into the fray, it's done so tastefully. Never overwhelming. Always complimenting the main instrumentation and vocals.
Honestly I think this album was written for vinyl. The first half has a distinctive sound, and the second side ups the experimentation as well as additional instrumentation significantly. The two sides acting as a compliment to each other is not only excellent in terms of pacing, but it's masterful planning for the album as a whole.
I can see why I was a bit disappointed with the album the first time I listened. It's a bit of a slow burn for the album, but once it got it's clutches into me I was hooked. At the Gates are a strong as ever with their latest album and I look forward to seeing what the band comes out with next. If they decide to leave The Nightmare of Being as their final album, then they have certainly gone out with one hell of a swan song.
Written May 6th 2024
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