Arizona death metallers Gatecreeper are gearing up to release their excellent new album Dark Superstition tomorrow (May 17) via Nuclear Blast. We’ll have a review of that soon (update: review here), but first, vocalist Chase Mason and bassist Alex Brown have made us a list of their favorite melodic death metal albums, to go along with this new melodeath-leaning LP. It includes Dismember (whose Fred Etsby assisted Gatecreeper on the new album) and In Flames (who Gatecreeper are on tour with as we speak), plus albums by At the Gates, Dark Tranquillity, Edge of Sanity, A Canorous Quintet, and more. Read on for the list, with commentary on each pick.
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GATECREEPER’S 10 FAVORITE MELODIC DEATH METAL ALBUMS
At The Gates – Slaughter of the Soul
A classic blueprint for the genre. This style has been mimicked by countless bands since and was gateway into ’90s death metal for our generation.
A Canorous Quintet – Silence of the World Beyond
One of the most sorrowful records from the ’90s. From the riffs to the artwork to the lyrical themes, it’s a masterpiece of tragedy. Highlight track: “The Orchid’s Sleep.”
Gates of Ishtar – The Dawn of Flames
Full of thrashy and triumphant riffs that are catchy as hell. The original epic fantasy style green cover is some of the sickest artwork ever. Super epic piano & keyboard layers especially on the title track.
Intestine Baalism – An Anatomy of the Beast
Very clearly taking influence from the more melodic side of the Stockholm sound, especially from the Dismember school of riffing. Has its own touch that sounds distinctly Japanese which sets them apart from their Swedish contemporaries and is uniquely their own.
In Flames – Colony
This record showcases some of the most epic guitar harmonies in the band’s catalog alongside some of the catchiest songwriting to come out of the classic Gothenburg scene. Every song is a standout track, including a very sick reimagining of “Behind Space” from their debut album Lunar Strain which the band still plays to this day.
Dark Tranquillity – The Gallery
Another favorite from the original Gothenberg scene. This record might standout from the rest with the most prominent keyboard usage which gives it an almost over-the-top sound. Great songs and great production.
Dismember – Massive Killing Capacity
The album basically served as the blueprint when we started Gatecreeper. It reflects a turning point in the original Stockholm scene in which bands started injecting fresh sounds into their brand of death metal spanning from old school ’80s heavy metal to classic rock n roll – both of which are present on this record. The band displays its NWOBHM influences proudly on this classic banger.
Gorement – The Ending Quest
Super unique death metal record, even for Sweden – released before the “melodeath” tag was fully fleshed out it has elements of both old & new. The best parts of this record have to be the bittersweet death doom passages on “Silent Hymn (For the Dead)” and “Sea of Silence.” Very jarring, haunting, and triumphant shit.
Edge of Sanity – The Spectral Sorrows
No other band like Edge of Sanity – melodic, progressive and brutal. Every song is a banger especially the Sisters of Mercy style anthem “Sacrificed” and their epic cover of Manowar’s “Blood of My Enemies”
Desultory – Bitterness
The ultimate sad man death metal record – thrashy, brutal, and somehow very sentimental all at once without compromising any of said qualities. Definitely the Stockholm school of riffing versus Gothenburg, but super melodic and catchy throughout. Track #7 “Enslaved” is a crowning achievement of Swedish death metal.
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Listen to a playlist with all of their picks:
Gatecreeper — 2024 Tour Dates
May 16: Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls Theatre *
May 17: Buffalo, NY – The Town Ballroom *
May 18: Louisville, KY – Portal w/ Gates To Hell
May 19: Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee Metal Fest
May 21: Detroit, MI – St. Andrews *
May 22: St. Louis, MO – The Hawthorn *
May 23: Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom *
May 24: Austin, TX – Emo’s *
May 25: Houston, TX – House of Blues *
May 26: Dallas, TX – House of Blues *
May 28: Santa Fe, NM – Tumbleroot Distillery ^
May 29: Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater ^
May 30: Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge ^
May 31: Boise, ID – The Olympic ^
Jun 01: Vancouver, BC – Pearl on Granville ^
Jun 02: Seattle, WA – The Crocodile ^
Jun 03: Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios ^
Jun 05: Sacramento, CA – Goldfield Trading Post ^
Jun 06: San Francisco, CA – Rickshaw Shop ^
Jun 07: Los Angeles, CA – 1720 ^
Jun 08: Mesa, AZ – Nile Theater (Record Release Show) #
Oct 30: Dublin, IRE – Whelan’s
Oct 31: Bristol, UK – The Fleece
Nov 01: London, UK – O2 Academy Islington
Nov 02: Manchester, UK – Damnation Festival
Nov 03: Hertogenbosch, NL – Sepulfest
Nov 04: Wiesbaden, DE – Schlachthof
Nov 05: Zurich, CH – Dynamo
Nov 06: Milan, IT – Legend Club
Nov 07: Vienna, AT – Arena
Nov 08: Munich, DE – Backstage
Nov 09: Essen, DE – Turock
Nov 10: Hannover, DE – Musikzentrum
Nov 11: Copenhagen, DK – Pumpehuset
Nov 14: Tampere, FI – Olympia
Nov 15: Helsinki, FI – Aaniwalli
Nov 16: Oulu, FL – Kantakrouvi
Nov 18: Stockholm, SE – Kollektivet Livet
Nov 19: Gothenburg, SE – Film Studios
Nov 20: Hamburg, DE – Knust
Nov 21: Berlin, DE – SO36
Nov 22: Leipzig, DE – Ut Connewitz
Nov 23: Stuttgart, DE – Im Wizemann
Nov 24: Antwerp, BE – Zappa
* – w/ In Flames
^ – w/ Undeath, Jarhead Fertilizer, Final Gasp
# – w/ Full of Hell, Undeath, Jarhead Fertilizer, Final Gasp, Nuclear Remains, Yellowcake, Blood Loss, Groin, Jock Club, Dave Parley, Snupac