TRACK LISTING

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*Comments:

1.  Bastard Born
2.  The Scourge ov Drvnkeness
3.  To the Rack With Them
4.  Day of Farewell
5.  Castle of the Devil
6.  Coven of Cain
7.  The Wretch
8.  Iron and Fire

Total playing time: 55:55

Release Date: May 10, 2011
Label: Rise Above Records

The Gates of Slumber - The Wretch

Reviewer: Rottenbucher

August 20, 2011

Someone take away The Gates of Slumber’s Saint Vitus collection!  Their follow up to the thunderous Hymns of Blood and Thunder is viciously moody, mean and melancholic.  The Wretch is just plain wicked.  But if you like oppressive Doom, The Wretch may be your album of the year.

“Bastard Born” doesn’t move above a snail’s pace.  The riffs just ooze Sabbath/Vitus and Karl Simon’s howl meshes perfectly. Thankfully “The Scovrge ov Drvnkeness” is a touch faster, but sounds a tad hung over. “To the Rack With Them” is a bit more upbeat and aggressive.  The song’s solo and melodic hook brings the only bright spot to the track and pushes the song into jam territories.

“Day of Farewell” unloads a heap of crawling riffs and self-loathing lyrics.  Jason McCash’s bass grooves really carry the track and make a slight not to Geezer’s trademark walking style.  Fortunately “Day of Farewell” has a bit more variety in the riff department and it gives the track some personality among all the bleakness. “Castle of the Devil” initially moves between acoustic guitars and dominating riffs before morphing into an impressive jam.  McCash encourages the groove while Simon stretches his fingers nicely in a very Bluesy manner. It makes for one of the best moments on the disc.  “Coven of Cain” is the breath of fresh air The Wretch needed. With an upbeat pace and some great Iommi-styled riffs, the track shakes off the rust.  The upbeat strides of the previous songs get shot to hell with the crawling title track. The solo-jam is entertaining, but over all “The Wretch” is quite draining.  The 12-minute “Iron and Fire” delivers a lot of downtrodden variety beneath Simon’s howls but the song almost drags on too long to enjoy in one sitting.  By the time the melody and solos arrive, nearly 10 minutes have passed.

And that is where The Wretch stumbles.  It’s not that The Gates of Slumber’s newfound passion for channeling Vitus isn’t up to snuff, it’s that the songs tend to drag on and have too few hooks to keep the listener engaged.  Everything here is top shelf, but those looking for the galloping Doom Metal from their releases will be a bit put off.  The Wretch isn’t wretched, it’s just lacking their trademarked Doom-friendly hymns.  The Wretch is recommended for fans of Saint Vitus, Count Raven and Lord Vicar.