Band: AFFLICTION GATE
Country: France
Title: Dying Alone
Label: Atavism Records
Year: 2017
Style: Death Metal
Review:
Wow, this EP might well be one of the best surprises I get in my mail in the past few months! Originally released by Transcending Obscurity Records on CD last year, Dying Alone got the tape treatment from Atavism Records this year, and 100 pro cassettes were released, maybe a bit less than this music would deserve, but at least I'm sure they'll sell out quickly. Affliction Gate is an experienced band on the French scene, being formed back in 2006 and even releasing a full-length album in 2009, so the tightness and brutality of this record shouldn't surprise, what it does is how well the band manages to sound traditional and fresh at the same time. Although it took the band 4 years to come up with these 4 new tracks (plus 2 bonus tracks), it was all worth it, Dying Alone is full of catchy and memorable guitar riffs, excellent old-school, expressive guitar leads and solos, a brutal as fuck bass line, drumming that's spot on all the time, not rushing things, not losing any tempos, and last but not least a fantastic vocal unleashing one of the best tonalities I've ever heard, growling, comprehensive and natural at the same time, it sounds like the guy was born to produce Death Metal vocals. Excellent, damn excellent! Don't lose any more time and get this tape until it's not too late, for me this band is now in pole-position in my "bands to follow closely" top.
Reviewed by Adrian
Rating: 9.5/10