Formed in Gothenburg, Sweden in late 1990. One of the pioneering bands of the so called NWOSDM (New Wave Of Swedish Death Metal), and the Gothenburg sound. Their first EP 'Garden Of Grief' (1990) is old school death, but the latter discs are more of the melodic death. And this is the At The Gates I like. They were breaking grounds for bands like Dark Tranquility and In Flames. Although disband in 1996, members can now be found in The Haunted and Hide.

  THE RED IN THE SKY IS OURS/WITH FEAR I KISS THE BURNING DARKNESS (1995) PEACEVILLE (2-CD)

CD1: THE RED IN THE SKY IS OURS (1991)

  1. The Red In The Sky Is Ours/The Season To Come

  2. Kingdom Gone

  3. Through Gardens Of Grief

  4. Within

  5. Windows

  6. Claws Of Laughter Dead

  7. Neverwhere

  8. The Scar

  9. Night Becomes Blood-Black

  10. City Of Screaming Statues

Line-up:

Tomas Lindberg - vocals

Anders Björler - guitars

Adrian Erlandsson - drums

Jonas Björler - bass

Alf Svensson - guitars

 

CD2: WITH FEAR I KISS THE BURNING DARKNESS (1993)

  1. Beyond Good And Evil

  2. Raped By The Light Of Christ

  3. Break Of Autumn

  4. Non-Divine

  5. Primal Breath

  6. Stardrowned

  7. Blood Of The Sunsets

  8. The Burning Darkness

  9. Through The Red/Nightmare Continues

Line-up:

Tomas Lindberg - vocals

Anders Björler - guitars

Adrian Erlandsson - drums

Jonas Björler - bass

Martin Larsson - guitars

A re-release of At The Gates first 2 full-length albums as a double disc. I bought it second hand for the price of a single disc. Not much to say about 'The Red...' because I don't care much for it. Almost black metal. They haven't found their style yet, and sounds too raw. A bit like the oldest Sentenced record. 'With Fear...' is better, but still lacking the melodies of the discs to come.

Killer songs: The Burning Darkness

TERMINAL SPIRIT DISEASE (1994) PEACEVILLE

  1. The Swarm

  2. Terminal Spirit Disease

  3. And The World Returned

  4. Forever Blind

  5. The Fevered Circle

  6. The Beautiful Wound

  7. All Life Ends (Live)

  8. The Burning Darkness (Live)

  9. Kingdom Gone (Live)

Line-up:

Tomas Lindberg - vocals

Anders Björler - guitars

Adrian Erlandsson - drums

Jonas Björler - bass

Martin Larsson - guitars

This is the first At The Gates disc I heard, and it took me by surprise. So hard and yet with melody. The band actually played in my hometown on the tour for this. And believe me, not many metal-bands have played here, except some locals of course. So my disc is signed by the members. Not exactly sure if this a mini-CD or a full-length album. I mean 6 new songs and 3 live ones? It's a great disc though.

Killer tracks: Terminal Spirit Disease, The Swarm

SLAUGHTER OF THE SOUL (1995) EARACHE

  1. Blinded By Fear

  2. Slaughter Of The Soul

  3. Cold

  4. Under A Serpent Sun

  5. Into A Dead Sky

  6. Suicide Nation

  7. World Of Lies

  8. Unto Others

  9. Nausea

  10. Need

  11. The Flames Of The End

Line-up:

Tomas Lindberg - vocals

Anders Björler - guitars

Adrian Erlandsson - drums

Jonas Björler - bass

Martin Larsson - guitars

At The Gates last disc (not counting the best of..-release). Some say this is their best album, but I put my finger on 'Terminal...' None of the songs stick out, but the entire disc is really good. Massive death sound, but still melodic. EXCELLENT!

Killer tracks: Blinded By Fear, Slaughter Of The Soul

SUICIDAL FINAL ART