Some bands just can't get enough of their Black Sabbath worship, and for the most part, I'm ok with that. The Gates of Slumber is one such band, and their fifth album The Wretch will scratch that itch for anyone who is longing for the days of Master of Reality, Black Sabbath, and Vol. 4, or even the classic releases from Saint Vitus.
At its core, despite any desire to break any new ground or attempt something unique, The Wretch is quite simply a damn fine doom/sludge metal release. "Bastards Born" and "The Scourge of Drunkenness" have some pretty huge walls of Sabbathian riffs, thanks to the effective guitar work of guitarist/vocalist Karl Simon, who I might add seems to have channelled both Tony Iommi & Ozzy Osbourne into his arsenal. Who can resist the ponderous dirge that is "Day of Farewell", a crushing number of slow, behemoth doom, or the spooky, evil sounds of "Castle of the Devil" ? For anyone into this type of metal, it will certainly he hard. "Coven of the Cain" has a certain Pentagram feel to it, and the funeral death march of the title track will leave the masses quivering in fear from the mighty arrangements.
By the time you get to the epic closer "Iron and Fire", you'll either be exhausted from all the slow, ponderous headbanging you've been doing or bored to death from the onslaught of doomy riffs and plodding passages. That's what doom has always been, a love it or hate it style of metal for most people. The Wretch though is pretty damn good, and while The Gates of Slumber certainly wear their influences on their sleeves, this is high quality doom that is worth checking into.
Track Listing
1. Bastards Born
2. The Scourge of Drunkenness
3. To the Rack With Them
4. Day of Farewell
5. Castle of the Devil
6. Coven of Cain
7. The Wretch
8. Iron and Fire
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