Anubis Gate Denmark
"The new album can't consistantly re-activate the affecting high level quality, for example known from the 2014 'Horizons' album. Right upon the start several moderate compositions actually do not initiate some fireworks. Though the second half of the release, starting with 'Dissonance Consonance', sees them on a more prospering path, with the definite highlight 'Absence' at the end."
"Having released three very strong albums in a row, in the form of "Andromeda Unchained", "The Detached", and "Anubis Gate", the Danish progressive metal band's most recent, and eagerly awaited, album "Horizons" definitely has a lot to live up to. With no less than two line-up changes since "Anubis Gate", one might even be slightly worried that the new album may be sub par to its predecessors.
While I think that the previous three albums are slightly stronger than this one in some respects, there are some new elements on "Horizons" - probably adopted by the band as a consequence of the inspirations brought by the two new members - which I think enrich Anubis Gate's already interesting style of music. Firstly, I think that "Horizons" is musically the most varied album by the Danish band, as it explores both melodic pathways and heavier grooves. The rhythm guitar has become slightly more aggressive, which I appreciate, while the use of keyboards has become more prominent, which works very well here. Morten Gade Sørensen's drumming is both considerably technical and dynamic, yet also potent.
'Destined to Remember', which listeners might already be familiar with because an alternate version appeared in the "Sheep" EP, is a melodic and multi-layered progressive metal track, rich in layers of melody. The multi-layeredness (if such a word exists) also characterizes 'Never Like This (A Dream)' which also features some fierce neo-power metal riffage. 'Hear My Call' is heavier and builds on groovy riffs, and 'Revolution Come Undone' ventures into both power-thrash territory. 'Mindless' features some pretty cool guitar melodies and some slightly dissonant quirky guitar figures, which is something I've never heard from Anubis Gate before.
Needless to say, the level of musicianship on this album is impeccable, as is the songwriting, and Henrik Fevre's singing voice has a strange haunting quality, as it almost flows on top of the music. As mentioned, the use of keyboards is quite prominent on this album, and I don't know if Anubis Gate are Depeche Mode fans, but there are several aspects of the keyboards that remind me of the melancholic atmosphere that the British electro-pop act excel at generating. This is a complement, by the way, as I am a fan of Depeche Mode myself.
Fans of melodic metal and should definitely check out this fine album by one of Denmark's best progressive metal bands.
(review originally posted at metalmusicarchives.com)"
"A between-albums release, this EP was released on Nightmare Records so the fans would have some music to enjoy while waiting for the band's next album, which they are currently working on. The nice guys they are, Anubis Gate are not charging a dime for this EP, and you can download it for free on Nightmare Records' website.
The EP contains three tracks: one original and two cover versions. The original track 'Destined to Remember' is an alternative version to the one that will appear on the band's upcoming album ”Horizons”. This track is a compact five-minute rocker building on the style that the band adopted on their previous eponymous album, exploring further the more melodic sound. With a couple of quirks and a nice sense of multiple layers, 'Destined to Remember' should appeal to fans of the likes of Queensrÿche or Ivory Gates. 'Sheep' is a cover version of the Pink Floyd classic, which has been metalled up and grooved up. It may be a shock to Pink Floyd fans, but I think it works very well. The last track 'Broken Wings' is a cover version of a song by the pop band Mr. Mister, and, unlike the metalled up version of 'Sheep', this one retains its pop feel.
This is a nice little present from one of Denmark's best, yet sadly underrated, progressive metal bands. Go and download it. Enjoy it. And send the nice fellas in Anubis Gate a thank you note for giving you something to keep yourself busy till the release of ”Horizons”.
(review originally posted at metalmusicarchives.com)"
"As I have mentioned before, I rarely feel national pride, but every now and then a Danish band releases an album which makes me proud of being from the same country as them. And with their latest eponymous album, Anubis Gate have just scored a hat trick with me. I absolutely loved "Andromeda Unchained" and "The Detached", and "Anubis Gate" immediately became a hit with me, too. The overall sound is lush and melodic and at the same time quite heavy and hard rocking. After Jacob Hansen left the band, bassist Henrik Fevre took over vocal duties, and while he does not deploy the same number of singing techniques, opting for a comfortable midrange voice, he does a very good job of it, and his voice suits the music perfectly - and especially lends itself well to the choral harmonies that often pop up in the choruses on this release. There is more focus on riffage, I think, on this album than on the previous releases, and the album - while definitely a melodic metal album - contains some of the most aggressive passages I have heard from Anubis Gate, who also bring power metal back into the picture to a greater extent than on their two previous albums. Interestingly, the album is tinged with quite progressive keyboards, but overall the synths seem less prominent than on the two Hansen-fronted albums; still, "Anubis Gate" strikes me as being much more lush. "Anubis Gate" is a very focused album, but rich in different expressions and moods, and there is a certain dynamicity to the juxtaposition of heavy groovy riff-based passages, mellow clean passages, uptempo passages and more progressive and lush passages. Anubis Gate are good at what Queensrÿche used to do: write progressive and different music which was still incredibly accessible and full of hit potential. While musically quite different from Queensrÿche, Anubis Gate are still a more than worthy contender for the title of "the new Queensrÿche". Lush, heavy, expressive, progressive and accessible, "Anubis Gate" is definitely one of the strong contenders for the title of progressive metal album of the year, and fans of melodic metal and power metal should definitely check it out. (review originally posted at metalmusicarchives.com)"
"Much heavier than its predecessor, "A Perfect Forever" nevertheless retains the appeal to melody that very much defines Anubis Gate. The compositions on this album are more complex than those on "Purification", and they contain numerous changes of time and tempo. Fans of progressive metal along the lines of Fatew Warning and Queensrÿche should like this album as should fans of classic metal along the lines of Judas Priest, Mercyful Fate and King Diamond."
"Fans of Queensÿche and older Fates Warning should like this one as should fans of classic heavy metal, as "Purification" sounds like somewhat of a blend of QR, FW and the likes of Judas Priest and Mercyful Fate/King Diamond.
The album certainly is an enjoyable listen which emphasizes melody and compositional quasi-complexity over aggression and heaviness. A number of rather heavy riffs are found, nonetheless, on the album, which quite successfully balances heaviness and melody making use of, among other things, heavy one-chord riffs and melodic twin guitars.
While not quite reaching subsequent AG albums in terms of quality, "Purification" should certainly be acquired if you like not-too-quirky progressive metal!"
"I think Anubis Gate are fairly original musically on this album, but their material may be likened to a blend of Fates Warning, Queensrÿche (especially the vocal patterns are reminiscent of Tate's work on "Operation: Mindcrime" and "Empire", and Symphony X which also draws on classic metal acts like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and the like.
The album is a bit pompuous (the good way) in production, making use of two guitars and keyboards and multiply layered vocals, all of which works quite well and supports the spiritualistico-sci-fi lyrical concept of the Detached, which are people of infinity as well."
