At War with Reality
At the Gates · 2014
52 min · 15 tracks · death metal
A relentless assault of melodic death metal intertwining intricate riffs with haunting melodies and evocative lyrics.
Top tracks — play these first
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At War With Reality — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of existential struggle, featuring dynamic shifts between aggressive instrumentation and melodic passages that underline lyrical depth.
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Eater of Gods — This track stands out for its ferocious tempo and intricate guitar work, showcasing the band's signature blend of melody and brutality while exploring profound philosophical concepts.
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The Night Eternal — Closing the album, this track offers a haunting atmosphere with its layered instrumentation and reflective lyrics, leaving listeners with a sense of closure and contemplation.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines intricate riffs and evocative lyrics, establishing a strong identity within its genre.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of dual guitar harmonies that create a dense, layered sound throughout its tracks.
- Several songs incorporate tempo shifts, alternating between blast beats and slower, melodic passages to enhance emotional impact.
- Lyrically, the album explores themes of existentialism and reality, with each track presenting a narrative that ties into the overarching concept.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic progression with climactic peaks
- wave-like pacing with intensity shifts
- melodic intricacies amid fierce aggression
- immersive storytelling through varied tracks
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- seek consistent, laid-back vibes
Where this album fits
- Career context
- At War with Reality marked At the Gates' first studio album in nearly two decades since their influential 1995 release, Slaughter of the Soul. This comeback was significant as it came during a period of renewed interest in the melodic death metal genre, which they helped pioneer in the early '90s. The band had reformed in 2010, and this album solidified their return to the forefront of the scene.
- Stylistic neighbors
- In Flames· Dark Tranquillity· Soilwork
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 El altar del Dios desconocido 1:06
- 2 Death and the Labyrinth 2:32
- 3 At War With Reality 3:08
- 4 The Circular Ruins 4:27
- 5 Heroes and Tombs 3:59
- 6 The Conspiracy of the Blind 3:18
- 7 Order From Chaos 3:25
- 8 The Book of Sand (The Abomination) 4:27
- 9 Language of the Dead 4:09
- 10 The Skin of a Fire 4:13
- 11 The Head of the Hydra 3:38
- 12 City of Mirrors 2:05
- 13 Eater of Gods 3:50
- 14 Upon Pillars of Dust 2:39
- 15 The Night Eternal 5:37
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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