THE ARCANE ORDER
At The Gates reformed recently to much celebration. A very influential band responsible for the creation of an entire sub-genre of death metal. I couldn't be happier. Then, of course, came the nagging doubts. Would they still have the fire after so many years in the wilderness? Certainly, neither The Crown nor The Haunted has really lit my world afire. So could At The Gates actually bring something to the table nowadays? The answer, now I've heard 'In The Wake Of Collisions', is "Who Cares?". Now, I'm not saying that The Arcane Order are clones of At The Gates. No, they take their influence from them in a big way. However, there are also subtle shades of Ihsahn in the vocals, modern thrash breakdowns in the middle sections, the complex arrangements of progressive metal, and a sound so massive it probably has its own postcode. In fact, as I write this whilst listening to it for a second time (normally I try and write an opinion after three listens at least), I really am struggling to hear anything tired or offensive. I don't believe in perfect records, as there will always be something that you can say ought to be different or better. Still, this is pretty close for me. I can't single tracks out either, because it would be pointless and would only serve the traditional format of a review. I'm actually sat at work in my lunch break writing this, and I'm trying not to start screaming along to this. It might of course amuse my co-workers, but I digress. No one’s interested in lists, and I rarely make them, but this would be Top Ten 2008 material. How to close? Well, if you in any way appreciate well-written/performed metal (or blackened-melodo-sympho-death for genre loving buyers) I cannot recommend this highly enough.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
Metal Blade Records
Album
IN THE WAKE OF COLLISIONS
Review by Steve Cowan
RUNNING TIME:
48:43
RELEASE DATE:
14th Jan 2008
TRACK LISTING
1) Death is Imminent
2) Between Reason an Hubris
3) The Serpent Tower
4) Eruptions of Red
5) When Oceans Become Deserts
6) Unleash the Tyrant
7) The Reaping Reverence
8) Sanctity of Allegiance
9) Horizons Buried
2) Between Reason an Hubris
3) The Serpent Tower
4) Eruptions of Red
5) When Oceans Become Deserts
6) Unleash the Tyrant
7) The Reaping Reverence
8) Sanctity of Allegiance
9) Horizons Buried
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Denmark
"...subtle shades of Ihsahn in the vocals, modern thrash breakdowns in the middle sections, the complex arrangements of progressive metal, and a sound so massive it probably has its own postcode."