Ancient North (USA) - The Gates - Reviowed By metal-digest ! Check it out here at this link: https://metal-digest.com/2022/12/24/ancient-north-the-gates/
When your band is just a solo project, literally just you and your means of recording, there’s no need to arse about with other members, you are the sole captain of the ship and able to work at your own pace. Ancient North has been the side project of Necroseer man Forlorn who has had a very busy 2022 and has released their debut album ‘The Gates’.
Well, Ancient North may be from the USA and that country may be home of the brave, but it is certainly not home of black metal. But what Ancient North deliver with ‘The Gates’ is an exceptionally raw album of old-school sounding black metal done with a huge swathe of hero worship to bands from a different era. Yes, this means that nothing hasn’t already been done before, but Ancient North do this sound very well and through a cold production ‘The Gates’ turns the clock back to 1993. So yes, that sound that is currently in your head, that’s exactly what ‘The Gates’ sounds like, so expect no surprises from this release. If second wave black metal is in your wheelhouse, then this will be very enjoyable with tracks such as ‘A Glimpse ov Eternity’, ‘Rites ov the Demon Race’ and the cover of Darkthrone’s ‘Graven tåkeheimens saler’ have all the appeal of Gorgoroth and Immortal.
Realistically, ‘The Gates’ is predictable and at times one-dimensional, but it also does its job well. Do you really need a second wave black metal album layered to high heaven with a pristine mix? No, you want it to put its foot down and drive forward like a Ferrari on the Autobahn and that’s what ‘The Gates’ offers. ‘The Gates’ may not be the best black metal album you’ll hear all year, but it certainly won’t be worse. - metal-digest
Release Date: April 27, 2022
FFO: Gorgoroth, Immortal, Ragnarok
Location: Oregon USA
Short Bio: Relentless traditional black metal with themes of winter, medieval. Fast and cold, aggressive with speed.
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