Indiana Doom legends The Gates of Slumber are back.
More than ten years after their last EP, Karl Simon (guitar/vocals, ex-Wretch) and Chuck Brown (drums, Apostle of Solitude), accompanied by Steve Janiak (bass, Apostle of Solitude) revive the band, and offer us The Gates of Slumber, their sixth album, on Svart Records.
Slow heady riffs immediately appear on Embrace the Lie, the first track, followed by mysterious vocal parts that complete the band’s heavy but catchy approach. The composition captivates our minds as it gradually joins We Are Perdition, where the bass melody quickly becomes more ominous, but the trio keeps its Old School approach by distinguishing the rhythm section from the guitar. The leads give the track a completely different and much more jerky tone before moving on to the upbeat Full Moon Fever, which carries us along in its jaunty march before finally turning into an eerie nocturnal ballad, but At Dawn will bring back the light and more energetic tones. The vocals are also calmer, gentler, even more reassuring on this short track, which after four minutes gives way to the mystical The Fog, whose dissonance reminds us of that threatening cloud of smoke in the distance, still inhabited by the lively solo’s thunder. The album comes to a close with The Plague, the last creation, which first subjects us to its manifest ataraxia, before picking up the pace again, integrating rawer sounds with a steadier rhythm, then slowing down again to lead us to the final jolt.
There’s no denying it, The Gates of Slumber know what they’re doing when it comes to Doom Metal! The Gates of Slumber is forged in the style’s roots, and can be just as convincing with abysmal slowness as with more energetic passages.
85/100
A few questions to Karl Simon, guitarist, vocalist and founding member of the american Doom Metal band, The Gates of Slumber.
Hello and first of all, thank you very much for your time! How could you introduce the band The Gates of Slumber without using the words “Doom Metal”?
Karl Simon (guitar/vocals): We are the sound of a broken man who’s old before his time shaking his fists in futile rage at the sun as it rises, yet again.
Do you remember where does the name The Gates of Slumber come from, and how do you link it to the music you play now?
Karl: It’s a song off the Cianide record A Decent Into Hell. One of my favorite bands ever. I don’t know how it links to our sound now, if I’m honest…. I really don’t think about that stuff anymore. I just write and play. You can’t be a servant to your past, I mean you can, but I don’t think that’s a way forward; so it’s a tricky razor’s edge to ride: to be true to the past but not stuck in it – because with something like this you want to echo what you’ve done without basically covering yourself.
The band is about to release its sixth album, The Gates of Slumber. How do you feel about it? Do you already have any feedback?
Karl: I’m quite happy with the record, it sounds good and I think we came up with some good stuff. The response has been about what I thought it would be. For a band as schizophrenic as we’ve been there are going to be things that some people want that we didn’t do this time. You can’t worry about pleasing everyone, no reason to try. But for the most part people seem to enjoy it.
How would you sum The Gates of Slumber’s identity up in only three words?
Karl: Chuck, Steve, Karl. That’s the best I can do. 20 years ago I’d have said something like “True Doom Metal” or something like that. But what does that even mean? Who cares?
How did the creation process happen for The Gates of Slumber? Was it easy to include Steve Janiak’s touch, as he is the band’s “new” member?
Karl: It was very easy, Steve just fit right in. I think he adds a lot to the sound. Particularly with his vocals.
The band’s sound is of course anchored in Doom Metal in an Old School way, but how do you create your own touch?
Karl: By just doing what comes naturally. Not trying to push too hard in this direction or that. But just letting ideas show you where they want to go. I’ve always found that the music will let you know where to go or where you can go.
Do you have a favorite song on this album? Or maybe the hardest one to achieve for the album.
Karl: I really liked what we did with The Plague. That’s an old song, very old. And it finally got fully worked up and done. I started working on that back in 1998, and it has sat in pieces since then.
Where do you find your inspiration to create music? Is there a concept on the album The Gates of Slumber?
Karl: I’ve been playing for a few years now and the inspiration just comes and goes. Sometimes I can write up 2-3 songs in a day and forget them all or go and try to recapture the feeling and that has passed, sometimes I let the guitar sit for weeks. Sometimes I feel blue, have a few minutes to play here and there. There have been times when I don’t play at all for months. It comes and goes. I don’t love it all the time. There isn’t a concept really. Nothing ties one song to the next. We’d started on new songs before the short reunion tour we did. And with the pandemic it just took the wind out of our sails and made me unfocused. But in 2023 I finally drew a line in the sand. We started working on The Fog and The Plague with the intention of capping our record with those songs. It’s just a collection of the first 6 songs of this last iteration of the band.
Do you think you improved yourself as a musician and songwriter with this new record?
Karl: I don’t know. I know that in the intervening years between the last Gates of Slumber record, the Wretch stuff and now I’ve come to accept my limitations and who I am as a player and singer and I no longer try to force things for the sake of ego or whatever. So there is that. I mean if I were a Technical Death Metal guitarist I suppose I’d be grinding away trying to find the next string skipping riff at 350bpm or whatever. But that’s not the palate I use. I have all the tools I need to create what I hear in my head. For me now it’s about crafting a riff or coming up with a solo that I like. If you like to too: that’s awesome! If you hate it, go tell your friends online about it, write a blog post or tell your mom. I don’t care. You know? lol.
If the website setlist.fm is right, the band didn’t play live since 2020. Do you plan to go back to the stage?
Karl: I’m sure we’ll get back to playing live sometime. These days I am fully involved in caring for my old dad. That takes up the bulk of my days. And I can’t cart him out on the road with us. So I am here doing the daily chores of a caregiver.
According to the same website, you played three times in France, between 2006 and 2011. Do you remember those shows? Do you have a special memory you would like to share with us about playing in France?
Karl: I’ve loved the times I was in France. The last time was a real stand out. We played Le Nouveau Casino with Cathedral on their last tour and it was really cool. Wonderful old building. It was a great last show for the tour and then we were off to London to record The Wretch LP. Those were good days. Felt like we were going to make it through. But we didn’t. Everyone died in the end.
How do you guys get prepared to jump on stage? Do you plan to come back to Europe soon?
Karl: With my current situating situation we don’t have any plans for gigs. As far as getting ready it’s just a matter of coming up with good sets and playing them over and over until we have it right. And then let the chaos of a tour take over.
Are there any musicians or artists you would like to collaborate with? Whether it is for one song, or maybe more.
Karl: There are lots of people I’d love to work with, but there aren’t enough hours in the day for me to do the things I need to get done as is, you know? Time used to be in abundance, but anymore it feels like every second is already claimed.
What do you know about the French Metal scene? Are there any bands you know and like?
Karl: Sadly, I don’t know anything about any metal scene anymore. I am The Troll from the Saint Vitus song.
If you had to organize a concert for The Gates of Slumber’s release show, which bands would you love to play with? I let you create a poster with The Gates of Slumber and three other bands! Even unrealistic answers are accepted.
Karl: Reverend Bizarre, Orodruin, and Well of Souls from Texas…. I have very fond memories of our tour with them in the US back in 2005. We had a lot of fun.
Last and funny question: which dish would you compare The Gates of Slumber’s music with?
Karl: Like a food dish? lol. A tough piece of flank steak with some fries.
That was the last question for me, so thank you very much for your time and your music, last words are yours!
Karl: I’d just like to thank everyone who read this for taking the time to read and for giving a damn. I hope you’re well, and God willing, we’ll see you again on the road someday.