GATES OF WINTER „Lux Aeterna”

Music: Progressive Heavy Metal
Website: http://www.gatesofwinter.com
Country: Canada


Cool songs: Life Force Rapture, the Burning Kingdom trilogy, Winter Flight, From the Flesh

Canada… oh Canada! When I think of you I have in mind ice-hockey, maple juice, raccoons, beautiful winters and sequoias. From the day I have heard GATES OF WINTER I associate you with this band. In 2003 a few musicians decided to join forces and create a pure Canadian metal. Five years of performance, five years of rehearsals and concerts… one demo, one EP and finally – a full-length release: ‘Lux Aeterna’. Come, taste the music.

GATES OF WINTER prove that Canada is a strong player on the metal battlefield. ‘Lux Aeterna’ is their third album consisting of the same compositions as the preceding ‘Lux Aeterna’ EP, with one exception – the EP has one song which is not present here: ‘Torment’. The music is very poetic, sometimes it oscillates somewhere around light gothic, but does not touch it. From the very beginning the sounds are very tangible and crawl up the body making it shiver. The whole is kept in a kind of noir and dooming convention, with dominant slow but fleshy riffs, embellished with Lee’s heavy vocal. The sound is similar to EVERGREY, although it would not be fair to compare those two bands. GATES OF WINTER do everything to differ from the legendary ones and they succeed. Their sound is very authentic, dark; sad and poetic parts burst with emotional energy, the oneiric visions fill one’s mind with phantasmal ideas. The music is very colorful and surprising, a lot of varied motifs whirl around and just cannot wait for their turn to appear. Especially when it seems that the composition is ending and, all of a sudden, everything changes into a fast and furious ride. The sound burden reposes on the shoulders of Brian Holmes whose keyboards simply sing! Fantastic and poetic fills, spellbinding solos and that groove. It all results in an astonishing symphony, especially audible in the ‘Burning Kingdom’ trilogy, where you might have the impression of repetition (yes, indeed the riffs are the same, the leading motif is the same), but the power created by the keyboard simply smites everything. Not to mention pulverizing solos. What may annoy is the singing manner of Jody Lynn, who sings her parts in a gothic-like way. Just play any gothic song and you will know what I mean – it is not a song-killer, although makes the pleasure weaker. But the rest is totally great, really kicks ass and makes you want to listen to the album on and on.

GATES OF WINTER recorded a fascinating album. It would be a sin to compare it with other bands, especially EVERGREY. But by that I want to draw your attention to it. The gentlemen from Canada do not have to stay in the shadow of any bigwig. Their style and music is strong and will defend against any charge. Therefore they are not EVERGREY, but evergreen.

note: 9.5/10

Tracklist

1. Life Force Rapture
2. Burning Kingdom I – A Dark Affliction
3. Burning Kingdom II – Heavenly Insurgence
4. Burning Kingdom III – Lux Aeterna
5. The Wildwood Pariah
6. Winter Flight
7. Gates of Winter
8. From the Flesh
9. Omega

Total playing time 49:44

Line-up

Lee Maines – vocals, rhythm guitar
Bryan Belleau – lead guitar
Steven Furgiuele – bass
Brian Holmes – keyboards
Jon Harvey – drums
Jody Lynn Bedard – additional vocals on ‘A Dark Affliction’