The Awakening

Description

Reissue of the first album originally released in 2004.Svart Records continues the reissue of the works of Indiana doom metal legends The Gates of Slumber, with the release of their debut album, The Awakening, and their EP Like a Plague Upon the Land in late August 2026.Released in 2004, The Awakening is an album of raw, slow, monolithic traditional doom with a harsh sound. Characterized by heavy, powerful riffs and slow, oppressive solos, The Awakening is heavily influenced by Pentagram and Candlemass, with Conan-esque lyrical themes and vocals reminiscent of Ozzy Osbourne. An essential cult album for fans of authentic doom.The Gates of Slumber was formed by Karl Simon in 1998. Between 1998 and 2001, the band experienced several lineup changes. That year, the demo "Blood Encrusted Deth Axe" was recorded with Jamie Walters, aka Dr. Phibes/Athenar (Boulder, Midnight), on drums and bass. In 2003, Jason McCash took over on bass and remained a longtime member of the band until his untimely death in 2014. Simon then decided to disband the group. In 2019, the famous metal festival Hell Over Hammaburg wanted to bring them back on stage for the 2020 edition. Simon reformed the band with founding member Chuck Brown on drums and Steve Janiak on bass, and got back to work. This work resulted in the release of a new self-titled album in 2024 on Svart Records.For fans of SAINT VITUS, REVEREND BIZARRE, PENTAGRAM, GRAND MAGUS.