Dolmen Gate - Gateways of Eternity (2024)

★★★★

After listening to their EP from last year, I was excited for this band and what they’d have to offer next. Well, lo and behold, it’s here: the debut full-length of Portuguese epic metallers DOLMEN GATE. Wrapped up into a nice 40-minute package, DOLMEN GATE deliver a cold slab of epic steel, drawing inspiration from the classics like Manowar, Manilla Road, and Dark Quarterer. They expertly weave melody with heaviness and in their own special fabric is a certain originality I can’t quite describe. Lead vocalist Ana has a haunting quality to her performance and paired with the more knightly aesthetic of the band’s music, it makes for an experience that could prime someone for battle. The riffs are not the focal point here – although they do deliver in quantity – but rather, the aforementioned melodies. Strong lead guitar parts soar in and out from track to track, elevating already good songs to a higher plane and really hammering home DOLMEN GATE’s blend of fantastical themes with technical skill. If you like any of the bands I mentioned above or just want an album that’ll make you feel like a cavalry member, look no further!

FAVORITE TRACKS: “The Oath,” “Chambers of Magic,” “Horizon's Call,” “Betrayal”

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Originally published in April '24 (Issue No. 3)