Slaughter of the Soul (Expanded Edition)

These idiots who are reviewing should be taken off iTunes. This band is not metal... the singer is Screamo! Annoying emo screamo!!! Wack music

One of the greatest masterpieces of all time...Pure melodic perfection!!!

This was the album that got me into metal ANYTHING back in ’97 and it still just crushes me every time I listen to it. It’s crazy cuz it’s from 1996 and it still just sounds so relevant and fresh today compared to everything else.. granted that so many death, grind core, death core, whatever core metal bands have either been influenced or just blatantly stole this sound to get where they are. There’s just no denying that At The Gates: Slaughter of the Soul is ground zero for what all modern day death, black, gore, grind core, death core, melodic, you name it metal should be!!!

While other bands before at the gates have done a "metalcore" sound, this album perfectly mixes hardcore and metal (the vocals almost even sound black metalish) and nearly 20 years later, you can hear their influence in bands like Chelsea Grin, the black dahlia murder, Attila, infant annihilation, and even asking Alexandria. So to all you modern day emo kids, who think crap like "sleeping with sirens" is super brutal metalcore, listen to THIS.

Over the course of a couple of years, I was advised several times to purchase this album, and yet I didn't think the samples were good enough to justify the purchase. Well, I finally gave in because April is a dead zone for quality new releases, and I'm wishing I had not put this off for so long. It's a truly seminal, genra-defining album.

Dont think twice about buying this one. Don't need to say much more that that!

A lot of people consider this one of the best albums of the genre, but it's not just pure melodeath. Fast, crunchy riffs contrast the melodic riffs (which many modern bands would imitate) and the pounding pace and HARSH vocals give it a thrashy feel as well. There are no clean choruses here, but there are memorable ones. I felt this album is split in two, with the first half being more melodic, and the second half showing the thrashy side. The production here is amazing, with drums that avoid being overly clicky or tight while still having a "metal" tone, and the guitar just sounds awesome (melodic power without forsaking the heaviness at all). Suicide Nation, Cold, and Under a Serpent Sun are the best songs here.

Perfect. Simply Perfect

1996, Gothenburg. At the Gates, In Flames, and Dark Tranquillity perfect the Gothenburg sound, as reflected in Slaughter of the Soul, The Jester Race, and The Gallery, respectively. This album is the pinnacle of all that is melodic death metal. The snarling vocals may not appeal to some, but take a good listen and you will find that they are equally as brutal as any other vocalist at the time. The lyrics are incredible; and unlike many other death metal vocals, you can understand them. They consists of very well thought out poetry, each song having its own rhyme scheme and meter. The guitars have the perfect balance between absolutely bone crushing, and gracefully melodic. The drums only add to the magnificence. I listened to half the album headbanging. When my neck got tired, I started beating the wall with my hands and feet. If you don't do the same, please check for a pulse. Well earned FIVE stars. BUY IT NOW.

Played with these guys in Poland on a tv show back in '95. After seeing and hearing these guys I knew they had something special and certainly have proven it in this masterpiece.