BARBARIAN TEARS - Rev. - At The Gates

1997 "Slaughter of the Soul" 1997

This is one of the most brutal and killing albums of Scandinavian scene. Main music line and album conception pound and crunch relentlessly beating human weakness into submission. The production is remarkable for its mixture of clarity and power. This is a blend of cry from the heart on the edge of despair with life lust. It resembles activity of the famous Holland painter Van Gogh. It's craving for life on the brink of the death. The black metal vocals are intact here as well as a more death metal oriented riffing style. After several parts of pure aggression acoustic guitar and background flowing effects are thrown in to create a bit of mood of anxiety("Into the dead sky","The flames of the end"). Despite its rage force this album is made in a very melodious style, that slightly reminds "Gothenburg's branch" of Semi-Melodic Death (e.g. Dark Tranquillity 1995-1997). But brutality of At The Gates prevails over it! Never heard anything like it before. Unfortunately it's the last work of the band. An absolute masterpiece.
If you feel bad in a fit of weakness, just begin to listen this album. It'll help you wake up from bad mood. If you still don't have this record, get it or die...

January, 2001
Review by Vetrarnott

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