Review Summary: While short, "Terminal Spirit Disease" is a superb release, full of more than memorable songs from the late At the Gates.
In 1996, one of the worst moments in Metal history occurred: the juggernaut Melodic Death Metal band
At the Gates disbanded. After 5 tours in one year, irreconcilable differences caused the members to pick up their instruments and go their own way. If I knew who they were then (I was only 8 at the time), I would’ve cried.
Known for creating the “New Wave of Swedish Death Metal” scene (or typically known as “Gothenburg Death Metal”),
At the Gates pioneered the sound by mixing the brutal tones of Thrash with the melody that was found in the Death Metal scene of Gothenburg, Sweden. Hence, they created “Gothenburg Death Metal”: A heavy blend of ferocious riffs that had the calming of melody intertwined within them.
After an EP and two albums which gained them little attention (they were still homing in on their trademark sound), they sent shockwaves throughout the Metal scene with “
Terminal Spirit Disease”, which showed the band on the brink of something truly astounding, revolutionary, and inspiring. And while they certainly achieved that on their follow-up “
Slaughter of the Soul”, that doesn’t mean that “
Terminal Spirit Disease” should just be considered a warm-up. It’s a bit more technical, and just as brutal and melodic as its successor.
Haunting, bone-chilling, and irresistibly beautiful - those are the words that come to mind from opening notes of “The Swarm”. A cello/violin duo creates a sea of melancholy, in which the listener is forced to dive into. It’s only a matter of seconds before the first riff lands a solid right into your jaw, and slams you into the ground. Here you get the first taste of the rabid vocalist Thomas Lindburg, whose frothing voice is a legend among the Metal community. He puts so much emotion into his work that it sounds as if every vein in his depraved body is about to erupt. And combine that with the infatuating duel between serenity and discord that the guitarists Björler and Larsson create, and your mind will be overdriven with emotion. This whole act is carried on throughout the rest of the album. The deranged title track is throttled forward by Lindburg’s malicious voice and death-embracing riffs, while others like “Forever Blind” and “The Beautiful Wound” will leave you shaking from the coexistence of aggression and equanimity. And passing up on the gorgeous and unexpected acoustic/cello themed “And the World Returned” should be punishable by death.
“
A dead nation under one dead god…”
It’s not so much that you’ll be immersed into a new world of Gothenburg, but it’s the fact that these artists are nearly flawless in everything that they do. Lindburg is one of the most mesmerizing vocalists one will ever come across. While he doesn’t have much variation in his vocal works, he doesn’t need to. He perfectly suits the guitars throughout the whole album, and by the time a song is finished, you’d believe he literally has nothing else to give. His vocal efforts on “Forever Blind” are like watching a man fight for his very own existence, knowing that if he doesn’t put it all out now, he never will. Listening to him snarl “
We have lost our faith in our own creativity. What is evil, but good, Tortured by its own hunger and thirst?” will provoke your mind. He seems to have the attitude that every song he does is his last performance ever, and he strains his body to unmatchable limits. Such passion is rare, but it’s even mirrored by Björler and Larsson. This classic duo flicks out some of the most creative riffs the Metal community has ever, and will ever see. “The Beautiful Wound” and “The Swarm” are stunning achievements no matter how you look at them. And not only can they write riffs, but they can solo as if their life depended on it. “Terminal Spirit Disease” easily walks away with the most impressive solo on the album, as Björler rips through melodic note after note.
If anything were to hamper the dark experience presented by this album, it would be the actual amount of songs. You’re given a meager 6 tracks, and then 3 live tracks. While all three lives tracks are astonishing (“All Life Ends”, “The Burning Darkness”, and “Kingdom Gone”), you’ll be so busy devouring the actual tracks that you’ll never pay attention to them. I'll stand firm with my belief that if this just had 4 more tracks, it would stand equal to "Slaughter of the Soul". But also, out of the 6 real tracks you are given, “The Fevered Circle” lacks any replay value. While it’s certainly not a horrible track, the other 5 are so sensational that it will just leave you disappointed.
If ever there was a band that I wished would come back, it would be
At the Gates. And while “Terminal Spirit Disease” might not be as ground breaking as “Slaughter of the Soul”, it still deserves more than your respect. With 5 songs of pure bliss, and one mediocre one, this demands to be in every Metal fans album collection. For these musicians are true masters of their craft, and “Terminal Spirit Disease” stands as monument to them.
Overall – 4/5
Recommended Tracks
The Swarm
Terminal Spirit Disease
Forever Blind
Oh well.This Message Edited On 01.07.07
