If you haven't heard At the Gates, this isn't the one to start with. That would be their next album, "Slaughter of the Soul". However, once you've absorbed that one, make sure to get this one, too. At the Gates set a standard for Swedish death metal bands, basically breaking the constraints of traditional death, for a more melodic, exciting sound. This is sort of an EP, padded out with a few live tracks. Good stuff, but the band's masterpiece would be it's next one.

This is a great example of how Swedish Death Metal should sound, grim, harsh, and as cold as the worst nordic winter. This is technical death metal at it's best and a milestone for this band. Contrary to popular belief, I feel this is this bands last great release as the later stuff gets a bit too melodic and a tad on the weak side. This album and The Red in the Sky..... are the epitome of At the Gates' material.

This album by "At the gates" does not compare to "Slaughter of the Soul" so if you are trying to decide which to get.. there you go. But.. everyone should own all of their cd's and their are some incredible melodic riffs on this disc including an acoustic that involves to acoustics, a chelo and a violin.. and if you are familiar with "At The Gates" you know this one will be good. Thanx

Its called "melodic death", but thankfully its sound is unlike anything else out there. This band should never be classed with IF, DT, or AE(not insulting those bands). At The Gates has a more innovative and expressive style than those bands do(or ever did). Thomas Lindberg's heartwrenching screams are so expressive, he sounds like a man who has lost all faith and hope in this world.

The first song has simple Cello and violin playing a very bleak but building harmony, with ocean waves crashing in the background. The first real guitar riff is such a perfect progression on this, its sounds kind of epic, and very apocalyptic. Great riff. The short solo is executed very purposefully, there is no pointless technicality, just a perfect shot of melody. All the solos on this album are like this, and they come and go so quickly it makes them seem even more beautiful and melancholic.

Overall it sounds angry and bleak, with a kind of vain hopelessness barely coming through which is what makes it so interesting. The screams stab you right in the heart, as do the guitar solos. The mysterious instrumental is complete mastery, at one point there is six acoustic instruments playing!

Not alot of music hits me like this did. I know alot of CD's get five star reviews with people who say its the best music they've ever heard, but this is for real. You can't afford to miss this

The style has changed a little since with fear.. But you can still recognice the atg sound. The major difference is the more thrashier direction on this one. Some songs are shorter and the drums are more ordinary paced than the strange rythms that appeared on the previous albums. The sound on the next album is a little more delicate but on the other hand this sound matches this album. A true favourite even if the next one is even better. Wow!