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On their third album, The Gates of Slumber tighten everything up for a more focused, streamlined version of themselves. Without losing the monumental, gloomy atmosphere of old, they add several new elements and approaches. For one thing, there is a greater display of aggression throughout most of the songs. The peaceful noodling has almost entirely disappeared, paving the way for a faster, heavier sound. Conqueror consists of less jamming and more straightforwardness, a development that I for one applaud. Combine this with a better, tighter production and you get an album that can reach a wider audience than just the fans op epic Doom Metal. Another strong point is the wide variation, ranging from hauntingly slow sepulchral parts to mid-tempo, piercing riffs and ripping solos that cleave the listener apart.

Each of the eight songs are noteworthy and memorable, as are all of the instruments. Simon's voice is overwhelming and emotional, while his guitar work is exceptionally well written. Bassist McCash creeps in at regular times, providing a dense rhythmic and melodic counterpart to the main axe. Compared to their past releases, the drums have improved vastly and manage to establish a rock solid glue for the overall product. All of this is sealed with a warm and extremely tight production, done by Sandford Parker and delivered without digital processing.

Finding weak points proved to be quite difficult, since there are virtually no filler parts. Doomsters should acquire this piece of crushing metal without hesitating. The Gates of Slumber are without a doubt one of the best contemporary Doom bands, and may (should) be put in the league of classics such as Pagan Altar or Candlemass. Standout tracks: "Trapped In The Web", "Eyes Of The Liar" and "To Kill And Be King".