At the Gates

At the Gates is a Swedish Melodic Death Metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. The band was the main progenitor of Gothenburg-style Melodic Death Metal. Initially formed in 1990, with the disbandment of Grotesque, the band combined the speed and aggression of Thrash Metal with the growing Death Metal scene in Sweden, creating a unique sound. Initially active from 1990 to 1996, the band returned in 2007 for a reunion tour before splitting again in 2008.
In December 2010, they reunited again.

They are part of the “New Wave of Swedish Death Metal”, which includes bands such as In Flames, Dark Tranquility, Hypocrisy and Soilwork, among others.

At the Gates was nominated for a Grammy for “Slaughter of the Soul” in 1995, Fireside’s “Do Not Tailgate”, Meshuggah’s “Destroy Erase Improve”, and Yngwie Malmsteen’s “Magnum Opus”, but they didn’t win.

On October 18, 2007, At the Gates announced several reunion shows for mid-2008, including Getafe Electric Festival, Roskilde Festival, Ruisrock, Wacken Open Air, Graspop Metal Meeting, Sweden Rock Festival, Gods of Metal, Hellfest Summer Open Air, Castle Festival and Bloodstock Open Air, as well as a tour to Japan with The Dillinger Escape Plan, Into Eternity, Pig Destroyer and Mayhem in May 2008.

Anders Björler commented at the meeting:

“ Well, it seemed like the right time at once. We’ve been discussing a possible reunion for years, but this was the first time everything came together. For me personally, it feels like getting closure. The separation over ten years ago was abrupt and left a bad vibe between us that took years to overcome. We have a better relationship today and a more relaxed approach to who we are and what we do. It’s the right time to get together and play some shows. Try to catch us live in the summer of 2008. This might be your last chance. ”

On the band’s official website, Björler stated, “It would be pointless to release anything more than ten years after “Slaughter of the Soul” and it would only disappoint people.

When asked in October 2007 if the band were planning to write a new album, Lindberg responded:

“No new recordings will be recorded. The legacy of Slaughter of the Soul will remain intact. It would be fun to write together, but not under the name At the Gates.”
Throughout July 2008, they toured the US and Canada in what was dubbed the “Suicidal Final Tour” and played their final UK show at Bloodstock Open Air on Sunday, August 17, 2008. 2008. They finished their last show in Athens, Greece, with guest The Ocean Collective on September 21, 2008.

The band’s performance at Wacken Open Air in 2008 is available on “The Flames of the End”, which also includes clips of songs from other venues and a documentary covering the reunion in full.

In December 2010, the band announced a second reunion in their hometown of Gothenburg, Sweden, where they will perform at Metaltown 2011. After that month, they announced they would perform at Bloodstock Open Air in Derbyshire, England.

The band released a new album at the end of 2014 called “At War With Reality,” and they won the Swedish Grammy (“Grammis”) in February 2015 with this comeback album. The band were also awarded the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Inspiration Award in June 2015

Melodic Death Metal and Death Metal have both been used to describe the music of At the Gates. Early material by the band demonstrated a “progressive, complex way of crafting songs of dextrous melodic fluidity and variation,” which would influence progressive Death Metal as well as, for example, the Black Metal of Darkthrone’s Transilvanian Hunger. Alf Svensson, according to guitarist Anders Björler, combined Death Metal and Classical music with the Swedish melancholy of Nordic folk music to create the majority of this music.

However, because Svensson had departed the band, the commercial breakthrough “Slaughter of the Soul” was built on more conventional song structures. It was a no-frills, stripped-down, Melodic Death record that covered all the essential aspects of the genre.

At the Gates announced Stlhammar’s departure on July 23, 2022. Anders Björler, the group’s founding guitarist, returned to the group on October 5. As a result of Björler’s comeback, they are now working on their eighth studio album.

Musicians

Tomas Lindberg — vocais 1990–1996, 2007– present)
Adrian Erlandsson — drums(1990–1996, 2007–present)
Jonas Björler — bass (1990–1992, 1993–1996, 2007–present)
Martin Larsson — guitar (1993–1996, 2007–present)

Ex-members

Anders Björler
Alf Svensson
Björn Mankner
Jesper Jarold
Cliff Lundberg
Tony Andersson

Studio Albums

The Red in the Sky Is Ours (1992)
With Fear, I Kiss the Burning Darkness (1993)
Terminal Spirit Disease (1994)
Slaughter of the Soul (1995)
At War with Reality (2014)
To Drink from the Night Itself (2018)
The Nightmare of Being (2021)