The Gates Of Slumber Unveils “The Wretch”
Doom lords The Gates of Slumber will unleash their hotly anticipated fifth full-length album The Wretch via Rise Above Records/Metal Blade. Featuring eight slabs of punishing metal, The Wretch boils doom down to its purest form, resulting in the Indianapolis trio’s finest work to date.
Recorded during the cold British winter of 2010 at London’s Orgone Studios and produced by Jaime Gomez Arellano (Ghost, Angel Witch), The Wretch sees The Gates of Slumber pushing its trademark blend of skull-crushing riffs and pounding rhythms to new heights and marks a return to the slower all-out doom tempos of the group’s early albums combined with “true doom metal” lyrical themes. From the funereal crawl of opener “Bastards Born” and the all-powerful title track, to the pounding stomp of “The Scovrge ov Drvnkenness”, the barbaric “To the Rack with Them” and the epic “Castle of the Devil”, The Wretch is a future hall of fame metal classic. The album’s deathly cover art is taken from a watercolor and gouache painting by Arik “Moonhawk” Roper (High On Fire) titled “Emerald Eclipse”.
The Gates of Slumber just completed a triumphant European tour which included a headlining performance at the 2011 Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Holland where the band shared the stage with Voivod, SWANS, Shrinebuilder and more (check out live footage HERE). On May 28 in NYC, the band will launch a U.S. tour alongside doom legends Orange Goblin. The can’t-miss pairing of doom metal royalty will make stops in Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and more along the course of the tour’s trail.
About The Gates of Slumber:
The Gates of Slumber was founded in 1998 by guitarist / vocalist Karl Simon and the band’s debut album: …The Awakening emerged in 2004. The following year the band recorded the EP Like a Plague Upon The Land and mounted their first European tour to positive acclaim. 2006 saw the release of both the God Wills It EP and the band’s second full-length album Suffer No Guilt which further increased its following within the doom and true metal scenes. In 2008, the band’s third album Conqueror was released via Profound Lore Records. Produced by Sanford Parker (Nachtmystium, Lair Of The Minotaur, Pelican), the LP met to rave reviews while the video clip for the track “Trapped in the Web” enjoyed rotation on MTV2. The band then staged an extensive U.S. tour before commencing work on their fourth album and Rise Above Records debut Hymns of Blood and Thunder which was released in 2009. Hymns of Blood and Thunder garnered the trio the best reviews of its career including “Album of the Month” in Decibel who stated “The Gates of Slumber have quietly gone about the business of becoming one of the best heavy metal bands in the world.” 2010 saw U.S. dates as hand-picked support for doom legends Pentagram and a full U.S. tour with Weedeater followed by UK and European treks supporting the legendary Cathedral. The Gates of Slumber has emerged as one of modern day metal’s most critically acclaimed bands whose decidedly throwback sound both pays homage to and builds upon “Heavy Metal” in its truest form. The band has been hailed as “a breath of fresh air within the doom / true metal underground”.
The Gates of Slumber features guitarist / vocalist Karl Simon, bassist Jason McCash and drummer Clyde Paradis.
The Gates of Slumber tour dates: U.S. tour with Orange Goblin & Naam
May 28 New York, NY Santos Party House
May 31 Charlotte, NC Tremont Music Hall
June 1 Atlanta, GA The Earl
June 2 New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jack’s
June 3 Austin, TX The Scott Inn
June 4 Albuquerque, NM The Launchpad
June 5 Tempe, AZ The Clubhouse
June 6 Hollywood, CA The Troubadour
June 7 San Francisco, CA Bottom of the Hill
June 9 Portland, OR Dante’s
June 10 Seattle, WA Studio Seven
