A Melodic Farewell Forged in Fire

Some albums define an era, while others quietly refine it.
“At Dusk and Forever,” the third and final full-length album by Sweden’s Gates of Ishtar, falls into the latter category.

Released in 1998, at the tail end of the genre’s golden age, it never received the recognition it deserved. Now, with this stunning 2023 splatter vinyl reissue from Agonia Records, it’s time to give it the attention it merits. This reissue not only brings the album back to the forefront but also serves as a testament to the band’s enduring legacy.
This is melodic death metal done right — raw, passionate, and unrelenting.

A Flame Burning Out at Its Brightest

Formed in 1992 in Luleå, Gates of Ishtar were part of the crucial second wave of Swedish melodic death metal, running parallel to early bands like In Flames, Dissection, and Dawn.
Their sound was faster, darker, and more aggressive than many of their Gothenburg peers. They released three albums: “A Bloodred Path” (1996), “The Dawn of Flames” (1997), and “At Dusk and Forever” (1998) — and then they disbanded. There was no gradual decline; it was simply a final, desperate scream into the night.

This last record encapsulated everything the band had worked toward: tighter songwriting, sharper execution, and a deeper sense of sorrow flowing through the aggression. The atmosphere is darker, the tempos more dynamic, and the melodies resemble dying embers flickering against endless black.

Gates of Ishtar contributed something uniquely resonant to the melodic death metal genre. Unlike many of their contemporaries who focused solely on either technical precision or atmospheric flourish, Gates achieved a balance between aggression and melancholy. Their guitar work was steeped in classic metal harmony, while their rhythm section propelled the music forward with relentless death metal urgency. This duality created an emotive soundscape that many bands would later try to imitate but rarely matched.

The 2023 reissue offers a refreshed presentation of the original recordings. While the core mix remains faithful to the original, the remaster enhances clarity and spatial depth, highlighting the band’s intricate melodic layering and sharp drum articulation. Pressed on striking splatter vinyl, this reissue not only sounds warmer and fuller but also enhances the tactile and visual experience. It is a reissue done right: respectful of the past, yet enhanced for the present.

The band’s abrupt disbandment after this release was due to multiple pressures. Their label at the time, Invasion Records, collapsed under unclear and chaotic circumstances; its owner allegedly disappeared, halting all operations. Internally, Gates of Ishtar faced lineup instability and creative differences. Without label support or a unified direction, the band folded quietly, leaving behind a short but impactful discography.

Gates of Ishtar may not have achieved the same level of cult status as Dissection or Sacramentum, but their influence is unmistakable.
They perfected a cold and sorrowful approach to melodic death metal that many bands have pursued but never quite matched.
This 2023 vinyl reissue, presented in a splatter variant with a lyric insert and classic layout, is more than just a collectible; it is an act of preservation.

Rating: 9.0/10

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