GATEKEEPER
From Western Shores
(Cruz Del Sur Music)
48:58min

The Canadian melodic Heavy Metal band GATEKEEPER from Vancouver releases a new album for the first time in five years. GATEKEEPER’s breakthrough took shape in 2018 with the album “East Of Sun”, followed by the EP “Gray Maiden” in 2019. The title of the latest album is therefore a tribute to the province to which the band belongs. The band has also undergone some changes in terms of their line-up. Guitarist Adam Bergen (ex – TROLLBAND) replaced Kenny Kroecher, and singer Tyler Anderson (ODINFIST) succeeds Jean Pierre Abboud. Bassist David Messier and drummer Tommy Tro complete the quintet. Most of the lyrics and music on the album are by Anderson. With his sharp and passionate vocals, he tells about pulp fantasy, mythology and fantasy. Music-wise, the band combines strong riffs with catchy choirs. There are solid up-tempo parts and Anderson draws attention by singing a little lower than his predecessor, but his powerful voice goes well with guitarist Jeff Black’s old school anthems. The opening title track is reminiscent of a mixture of VISIGOTH and ETERNAL CHAMPION, so there is plenty of Epic Metal. The songs go straight into the ear and have a character that worms through that auditory canal. This factor ensures that fans of German bands like HELLOWEEN or BLIND GUARDIAN should also enjoy the material and also the OMEN school is more strongly addressed. In any case, ‘Death On Black Wings’ could be imagined from the riffing on one of the classic OMEN albums. ‘Exiled King’ and ‘Twisted Towers’ should also pick up fans of the last SUMERLAND album, whereas ‘Desert Winds’ is also convincing all along the line and has a much doomier touch. The production is a bit more powerful than on the debut, without ever sounding exhaustingly modern. With eight songs in almost an hour, GATEKEEPER delivers a strong album that will never get boring for lovers of melodic and epic Heavy Metal. Find out more about the band and label here: www.facebook.com/gatekeeperband, www.facebook.com/cruzdelsurmusic

Randolph Whateley

Randolph Whateley

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