The Gates of Slumber - Hymns of Blood and Thunder

If there hasn't been enough killer albums released this year already,now the new Gates Of Slumber has landed ( well almost ).Its official release date is late September but luckily a copy has landed on my doorstep for this review.I must first make a little confession,i always thought their albums didn't really capture what this band is really about,lacking a little bit in sound and power.Although i liked "Conqueror" i still thought it could have been so much better.Well,things have changed now as "Hymns Of Blood And Thunder" is one hell of a solid album and easily their best release so far.As usual their classic Traditional Doom Metal roots are still showing on this album but this album seems to be a more hard hitting affair than their previous output."Chaos Calling" kicks off the album is the best opening track they have ever come up with,a powerhouse attack that sets the tone for the rest of the album.The riffs are absolutely killer on this track and with the right production to match,this track is a monster." Death Dealer" continues in a similar vein but you might be thinking this band is more N.W.O.B.H.M than traditional Doom at this stage of the CD.Its not till you get to "Beneath The Eyes Of Mars" that the Doom roots come out in force but even then it has a more Progressive Doom Metal feel rather than traditional."The Doom Of Aceldama" is more of a plodding epic of a track but has a grandiose,majestic feel right through to its headbanging ending." Descent Into Madness" is another song on here with the same kind of vibe,mixing classic Metal influences sty-lings like Maiden,Priest etc.I think this where the band really is at their best and i love the more Doom-laced tracks but the more Traditional Heavy Metal is where the band really shines."The Mist In The Mourning" is another high point on the album,another epic feeling track complete with female vocals.Guitarist/Singer Karl Simon is at his peak on this album,the solo work is well done and tasteful while the vocals have enough hooks to make most of the songs memorable.The mix on the album is also well done with a layered Guitar sound and even a few acoustic moments that really add to the majestic quality of some of the tracks.If you have never bothered to check this band out then this is the album to judge them by.While its not 100% perfect ( my opinion only ),its one solid album that will finish up on a lot of top 10 lists by the end of the year.I must also say this album has a thicker sound than they have ever had before,producer Sandford Parker has done a killer job on this.Recommended for Doom Metal and old school Heavy Metal fans alike.8/10.