Today sees us come to the final day in our Christmas Album of The Year countdown. We have seen bands from all different walks of life. From the evolution of the band as a unit, to experimentation of new elements, to be pioneers of a newly created genre themselves. Then we have the age old come back, the previous year saw the rebirth of Carcass with Surgical Steel. Inspiring a new beginning of a band that was once never to record any material.

At The Gates -At War With Reality

Breaking the silence after 19 years At The Gates announced their return. Inking a fresh deal with Century Media Records the band set about writing their next chapter in metals history. At War With Reality. Not only having to live up to previous works, but having their past album Slaughter Of The Soul an archetypal record in the melodic death metal sound. No pressure.

The thirteen track come back proves to be one of the bands best efforts so far. Making the album a concept piece frontman Tomas Lindberg immediately dissacociated anything to do with the albums release and Slaughter Of The Soul. With some fans believing that the new album would essentially sound like the second part of their melodic death metal masterpiece At War With Reality was a completely new album.

Conceptually the album revolves around the idea of reality and it’s improbability, being the philosophical wordsmith that he is Lindberg bathes the album in a bleak philosophical ideal. The highlight of the album though is the impeccable songwriting, with many fans believing that After their nineteen year absence of material that At The Gates may not quite live up to their fierce reputation. The thought is dispelled completely the second we’re greeted with “Death And The Labyrinth” and fantastic and the arrival of anvil title track “At War With Reality” moving throughout the album we’re treated to slower obsidian songs.

The ethereal drawl of “Heroes And Tombs” showcases the slower side of At The Gates, whereas the faster more upbeat songs like “The Conspiracy Of The Blind” and the blasting “Upon Pillars Of Dust” remind us of the infectious groove oriented melody of the songwriting that we all fell in love with. Make no mistake though is is not At The Gates sounding the same as they have, the crescendo of the melancholic “The Night Eternal” along with interlude “City Of Mirrors” is a defining example of their haunting harmonies guitarist Anders Bjorler expertly worms his way into the subconscious. Personally my favourite song of the year “The Night Eternal” epitomises exactly the  raison d’être of At The Gates.

Writing Slaughter Of The Soul, At The Gates inadvertently threw down the gauntlet for not only metal bands to come but themselves. Proving that they haven’t lost a step in nineteen years the band returned, creating an album that will be lauded as a classic for years to come. Creating potentially the best comeback album in all of metal, At The Gates have once again revolutionised metal.

Thank you all for checking out our Advent Of The Year list and have the most Merry of Christmasses! Make sure you blast some metal while you carve the carcass of the turkey! Look out for more small lists before the new year! Stay Metal.