At War With Reality is a compendium of abstract thinking. With Tomas Lindberg’s howls slowly painting a hopeless picture. His pain stricken philosophical thoughts bleeding through onto the music’s canvas enhances the idea of complete emptiness. Partly due to his marvellous delivery giving a true sense of desperation. The obsidian riffs that weave At War With Reality together are even present but never dominate. Allowing the space for all the instrumentation, poignant lyrics and philosophical themes to truly immerse the listener.
“Death And The Labyrinth” bursts out after the bleak introduction of “El Altar Del Dios Desconocido” detailing the different possibilities of the existence of god. Followed after ward by the anvil that is title track “At War With Reality”. A song that epitomizes At The Gates’ return setting the tone brilliantly for the album itself detailing that although it might be 19 years later, this is the follow up to Slaughter Of The Soul everyone has been waiting for.
Most importantly however, it isn’t Slaughter Of The Soul part 2. “Heroes And Tombs” ensures that the groove factor remains topped up adding flourishes of melancholic guitar work enhancing the colossal weight of the song. Both guitarists Anders Bjorler and Martin Larsson are in need of a standing ovation with their subtle harmony infiltrating more with each listen. Nestled among the thundering drums of Adrian Erlandsson the harmonies give the black metal tinged slight Opeth-ian “The Conspiracy Of The Blind” a mournful colouring. “The Head Of The Hydra” reminds us that At The Gates are the original source of the Gothenburg death metal sound. The mix of the weeping lead work along with the masterful drum work that explodes in “Upon Pillars Of Dust”. A dynamic that the album thrives on are the aesthetic of sounds forlorn melody throughout the wistful “Order From Chaos” with an introduction that gracefully entombed’s the listener.
Song writing in particular on At War With Reality is the real secret weapon, “The Book Of Sand (The Abomination)” moving masterfully through the cavernous darkness enveloped with Jonas Bjorler subtle but ever present bass tones. A perfect introduction to the deus ex machina of the album is instrumental “City Of Mirrors” giving birth to a subtle melody. Only to be recalled in the climactic “The Night Eternal” moving sullenly forward in its monolithic dirge At The Gates show what they are truly capable of. Illustrating the cryptic paradoxical lyrics of Lindberg perfectly. Just as it emerged so it retreats beckoned by the darkness of its existence. And with that the album returns to nothing.
With At War With Reality, At The Gates have returned and with one fell swoop written an album that even the most accomplished modern metal bands would never even get close to. Creating a renewed despairing atmosphere with fantastic modern day production, philosophical introvert lyrics and above all the best song writing in metal today. At War With Reality has not only reignited a dwindling fire but has seen At The Gates revolutionise modern metal as we know it.
Again.
