ANUBIS GATE

When we see that an album has the same name as the band, we may think that it is their debut album, experiences have told us that people use to do that, however, this time Anubis Gate share their name with their fifth studio album, released for the first under Nightmare Records. It is the first time they do not release an album under Locomotive Records, and also the first time after several years that the band consists only of four members. I don't really know if some of these two issues have something to do with the self-titled name of the album, but it would make sense.

Well, this is actually my first rue encounter with this Danish metal band, so please be patient with me, and also be patient because as some of you know, I am neither an expert nor true follower of the metal scene. "Anubis Gate" offers ten compositions that together make a totl time of 62 minutes, in which you will find progressive-melodic-metal (excuse my ridiculous labels).

The songs here are not that short, and we can notice it since its opener "Hold Back Tomorrow" that shares seven minutes of the self-called Anubis Gate sound, which has a melodic yet powerful metal style, with nice vocals, great keyboard soundscapes and of course, strong guitars.

What I like of the album is that they don't really have the same sound in all the songs, of course they do have their style, but I wont say Anubis gate are a repetitive band, not at all. And that can be noticed from one song to another, for instance, we can listen to "Facing Down" which has some 80s style prog metal ala Queensryche and then to "World in a Dome" which is an eight-minute track with a powerful beginning, but with some melancholic sound in several passages; here we can listen to a let's say modern metal sound.

Fans of progressive metal will surely like this album, this Danish act has an excellent compositional style, they know how to use their instruments, how to give the diversity of feelings and changes between one song to another, without harming the listener, I mean, they are not drastic changes. You can enjoy heavier songs such as "The Re-Formation Show" or "Telltale Eyes", more melodic and softer ones like "Oh My Precious Life" or "Circumstanced", and even a catchy one like "Golden Days".

I like it but I have my reserves, after several listens it is not an album that really catches my attention, nor make me feel enthusiastic, but well, that is probably because the metal realm is not my favorite, however, as I mentioned if you are a true fan of the genre you will probably like it. My final grade, three stars. Enjoy it!