Review by Adam M on January 8, 2010.

A crushing vibe is present right out of the gates after the intro to "Angels Of Enmity". Storm King come out at you with tendencies that are harshly done. The sound is molten, but addictive in its ability to capture the intensity the outfit wishes to portray. Comparisons are somewhat difficult to come across, but I can hear similarities to Arch Enemy. There’s certainly some melody to be found and it is pushed underneath the chaos that ensues quite naturally. The band comes across slightly tough on the exterior, but there is way more to their sound than that. The music has a manner of sounding multi-dimensional in its approach though it might become somewhat stale after listening to it for a while.

Vocally, we have a sort of Hardcore style shout that isn’t the greatest thing you’ve ever heard, but effective enough for the music that comes forth beneath it. The entire picture is quite promising for the outfit and I can’t wait to see what they have to deliver in the future. The title track 'Angels Of Enmity' starts out quite differently than the remainder of the work on a somewhat subtle tone and continues to keep the acoustics up front throughout. The song is a highlight amongst the remainder both because it’s so different and works well.

As it stands, the album as a whole is quite solid in its intent, even if it isn’t quite spectacular. The fact that it sounds crushing brings it up a couple of notches to a very good state of existence. Storm King has crafted something that has enough dimensions to catch your attention and bring about an enjoyable listen.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 7.5
Originality: 7.5
Overall: 7.7

Rating: 7.6 out of 10

Review by Vladimir on January 3, 2023.

Terrörhammer is a highly respected name in the Serbian metal scene, and over the years they've become a cult band thanks to their reputation. Their well-received status gained them fans worldwide and positive reactions to both their discography and their live shows, but even after several lineup changes, they've still managed to uphold their position and push further with their oldschool sound. Now we've been blessed with an unholy gift in the form of their second full-length album Gateways To Hades, released via Osmose Productions.

Their previously released full-length album Under The Unholy Command still remains their black/thrashing magnum opus and to take its place is all but an easy challenge. Gateways To Hades on the other hand is a different beast, with songs like 'Blizzard Of Blood', 'The Interceptor' and 'Tronized Goat Master' that are black/thrashing bangers all the way through, while songs like 'At Dawn We Attack', 'Gateways To Hades' and 'Midnight Patrol' have more heavy/speed metal oriented guitar riffs, filled with a dose of catchiness and rock 'n roll. I don't consider this as a downside in any way. The evil and perverted heavy/speed metal energy is more than a welcome addition to Terrörhammer's established sound, though for some people it might either be a mixed reaction or a hard pill to swallow, depending on what they prefer. The highlight of this album beside the awesome riffs and banger tunes are the solos, especially on tracks like 'Blizzard Of Blood' and 'The Interceptor', with guest musicians Tamás Buday and Dimitrije Čuturilo, adding their flavor to this devilish brew.

Overall, Gateways To Hades may not be as great as its predecessor Under The Unholy Command, but I still love it for what it is. It's an awesome banger of an album and no matter the different approach to the sound, Terrörhammer still remain quite faithful to their true oldschool metal roots. There isn't a single bad moment of music to be found on this album or anywhere in their discography, especially not on killer songs like 'At Dawn We Attack', 'Blizzard Of Blood', 'Transylvanian Whore', 'Midnight Patrol' and 'Tronized Goat Master', which by far have probably left the strongest impression.

Terrörhammer is a gift that keeps on giving, and the time is good as any to check out their new album Gateways To Hades. Hail to the Hammer of the Terrör Cult!

Rating: 8.7 out of 10

Review by Felix on December 4, 2022.

My first point of contact with Terrörhammer was In The Name Of Hell and I still like this EP a lot. But either my memories betray me or the dudes have lost some percent of fury and brutality. The first regular track 'At Dawn We Attack' fails to convince me. It is fast and slightly catchy, but it sounds too smooth. The riffing seems to be inspired by the early Savage Grace, it lacks edges and corners. Of course, we get this devilish nagging, somewhat hoarse, raw and malicious. It gives the material a dark colour, but the guitar lines do not convey the necessary amount of filth which is needed when it comes to really recommendable black thrash. Honestly, the six strings create rather speed metal than thrash, not only in more or less melodic solos ('Transylvanian Whore').

To avoid misunderstandings, Terrörhammer do not sound like Savage Grace. Hordes like Nifelheim are much more comparable. Yet this vile, insidious and perfidious element that the Swedes present with black elegance is missing here. 'Blizzard Of Blood' and 'The Interceptor' are the first songs that can play with the big guys on the school yard in view of their high density and offensive character. Do not ask me why they have put their rather lukewarm and comparatively airy compositions at the top of the song list. Anyway, I am happy to see that the dudes are still able to swing the axes competently. These tracks are simply constructed, but not primitive and pretty catchy but, of course, not commercial. Too bad that they leave this trail of malicious black thrash again. 'Midnight Patrol' begins like an Accept song with unsuitable vocals, contributed by a sick raven. Things do not get better as the song progresses. A lame mid-tempo composition without any dynamic elements does not make my day.

Production-wise, the album gives no reason to lament. The basic guitar tone has a solid degree of sharpness and everything is well balanced (as long as we are able to ignore the usual problem called missing bass). But even the best production cannot work as a substitute for outstanding riffs and this component remains a pretty rare asset on Gateway To Hades. At least, in the last few metres, Terrörhammer pick up the pace again. 'Inside The Nuclear Tomb' suffers a bit from its slower oart in the middle, but the main riff is the musical setting of everything that knows no mercy. The equally furious last track closes the book and I regret that the dudes did not record just another EP, of course only with the four songs I like. Given the full-length format, Gateway To Hades has to accept the reproach that it offers too many lows to advance to the top.

Rating: 6.8 out of 10

Review by Adam M on May 13, 2020.

Dawn of Solace surprised me with their inventive and interesting take on death metal.  Waves is a melodic and pleasing album that has a moodiness to it that is very appreciable.  The guitar tone is strong and the drumming is spot on.  Aside from that, the vocals are all clean, which is unusual for a melodic death metal album.  The performances make the album crisp and clear and deliver a memorable overall experience. 

There are many solid songs on the album, but “Hiding” had a particularly large impact on me with its catchiness and accessibility.  The album is one that will appeal to a large degree of melodic death metal fans because of a somewhat commercial appeal, but there is a great degree of depth to be found here as well.  There are a lot of atmospheric shifts that show a vibrant chromatic character.  The album is very morose and bleak as well, and this shows in the amount of emotion poured into the work.  It could be improved with more progressive structures, but this is probably the best melodic death metal album the year has seen so far. It is dark, which also further enhances the chromatic feel of the album.  It lives up to some of the works of bands like Insomnium and Omnium Gatherum to become a very interesting part of the genre. With an increased progressive aspect, further territories could be explored and the album could be made even more vibrant. 

As it stands, there is a great deal of melodic capacity and depth to be explored here and melodic death metal fans will be thrilled with this release.  It is not the best album the genre has ever seen, but it is a solid addition to the genre and one fans will appreciate. Prepare to become entranced in Waves.

Rating: 7.7 out of 10