• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

I thought Gatekeeper's East of Sun album from 2018 was good, but it didn't stick around after it was over. From Western Shores, their second full-length album, is a warhorse of a different color. Once again, an epic metal feast for the ears, this time Gatekeeper have ramped up their songwriting with some truly memorable songs that don't sacrifice one ounce of epic atmosphere or heavy metal thunder. The title track opens the album with a bang and features a fast tempo and driving riff supporting a singalong chorus, much like "Blade of Cimmeria" did on East of Sun. The killer tracks just keep coming, including highlights "Exiled King," which boasts the same sense of import as Solstice, and "Twisted Towers," which has an upbeat melody and some great lead work in the Dark Forest mold. The new singer reminds me of Jon Oliva at times in how he uses his high-pitched screams to great effect and his vocal lines in general add much to the songs. This is an album not to be missed for fans of epic heavy metal and bands such as Grand Magus, Visigoth and classic Savatage.