Release date: October 18th, 2024.
Comes with Gatefold cover, download and sticker, 111x blue/red swirl vinyl with black splatter, 222x black + red colour-in-colour vinyl and 333x red vinyl with black splatter. The blue/red swirl edition is available exclusively from Northern Silence and The Gates, one copy per customer while stock lasts! The images are digital mockups. The actual vinyls may look slightly different.
The Gates play „Magick Metal“, combining their own brilliant interpretation of old school Occult Rock, Gothic/Death Rock and Psychedelic Metal with additional Black Metal vocals. Visually, they use classic psych imagery such as colourful artwork and magic mushrooms in combination with occult symbols, while their lyrics also focus on classic forms of occultism and psychedelic experiences.
Seemingly out of nowhere, in 2021/22 they delivered with their debut "...of Pandemonium" an absolute killer album full of occult hymns that quickly found many fans and helped them to gain a very dedicated fan base.
About a year later followed the equally phenomenal EP “As Above, So Below”, first released digitally and as a split-LP with Behrosth, and in 2024 finally reissued as a stand-alone MCD and MLP alongside the band’s second album.
On this new album, entitled “…of the River Styx”, the band continues to develop their unique style, incorporating more noticable nods to 80s synthesizer/disco music and Gothic/Death Rock. While the influence of the controversial originators of Magick Metal, Black Magick SS, is still noticable, The Gates easily manage to distinguish their album in terms of music, concept and visuals, and prove that they, too, have the potential to enlighten the suffering collective human consciousness through the cosmic brilliance that was given to the world in the form of Magick Metal.
Once again they show their unfailing ability to write songs and melodies that as a fan you simply can’t stop listening to until they have become a part of your very being. As before, singer Galigula truly shines, and his clean vocal performance on the final track “Blind Descent” makes you think you’re listening to none other than The Cure’s Robert Smith at the top of his game, showcasing Galigula’s incredible talent as a vocalist.
The Gates’ “…of the River Styx” solidifies the band’s status as uniquely talented musicians that dare to venture into as yet unconquered musical territories and forever leave their indelible mark.