REVIEW: DOLMEN GATE – “GATEWAYS OF ETERNITY”

DOLMEN GATE take us on a mystical journey through the Gateways of Eternity on their debut album for No Remorse records. We went along for the ride and found a band brimming with promise.

Partly forged from the embers of epic metallers, RAVENSIRE, DOLMEN GATE formed in 2021. Former RAVENSIRE members, Nuno (bass) and Alex (drums) are joined by the vocal talents of Ana, as well as the twin guitar combo of Kiko and Artur (lead guitar). Having put out an EP, Finis Imperii, in 2023, the band secured a place on the roster of the mighty No Remorse records and their debut full length is due to be released on 26 April 2024.

REVIEW

The tale begins with “Dolmen Gate”, a short acoustic guitar led song that introduces us to the fantasy story world beyond the portal of the Dolmen Gate.

That portal provides us with main opening track, “Rest in Flames”, which is propelled along by pulsating and somewhat understated riffing from Kiko and Artur. The main standout from this track is, however, the silky-smooth power of vocalist Ana. While other female power metal vocalists may tend to either scream or have a more rugged ‘nail spitter’ approach, Ana’s delivery wouldn’t be out of place in a melodic rock act. The sonic equivalent of a velvet glove wrapped around an iron fist; Ana’s vocals strongly complement the mystical narrative DOLMEN GATE are evoking.

“The Oath” brings a slower, doomier feel to proceedings, but no let up in the songwriting quality. A simply gorgeous middle eight section sees Ana’s voice overlaid with echo to conjure up sonic tension and uncertainty, before a tight guitar solo ushers in the more assertive chorus one last time.

The more speed metal infused “Chambers of Magic” offers a suitable change of pace and sees Ana’s voice a little more buried during more pronounced rhythm sections within the verses, before she cuts through within the defiant chorus. This track also sees prominent guitar soloing that both showcases Artur’s undoubted talents and acts as a narrative driving force in its own right.

Christened by darker riffs that wouldn’t be out of place in Megadeth’s early albums, “The Wheel” conveys a menacing atmosphere within verses that drive along the song’s storyline. Less immediate and memorable than its predecessor, it nonetheless finishes strongly with some exquisite soloing towards its climax.

“Retribution” sees the band add more crunch and bite to their opening riffs. This imbues the album with a welcome sense of urgency, and I found myself unable to stop headbanging during the hard-hitting verses. I did long for a fist pumping chorus to complement the verses, but DOLMEN GATE’s modus operandi is largely more subtle – a storytelling rather than anthemic approach is the order of the day here.

This approach is also evident on “Horizon’s Call”, albeit via a more plodding pace. There’s almost a groove metal feel in places here, but to my ears it is counterproductive in as much as it drags the song out causing the more absorbing guitar soloing and moments of drama within Ana’s vocals to be a little lost along the way.

Momentum is thankfully regained for the epic “Betrayal”, which boasts a satisfying galloping pace and punchier rhythm throughout. Shimmering chords within the verses and majestic vocals from Ana ensure that the album’s final full track unfolds in dramatic fashion. Indeed, the song suits the vocalist far better, allowing her to demonstrate her ability to reach high notes and exude a fragile power. It is also aided by stupendous elongated guitar soloing that manages to avoid self-indulgence and capture the necessary drama.

Proceedings are brought to a close by the atmospheric but brief keyboard instrumental of title track “Gateways of Eternity”, the fade out tantalizes the listener by conveying that the journey through the portal has not ended.

CONCLUSION

Gateways of Eternity is a highly enjoyable debut from an undoubtedly talented outfit. At a mere 39 minutes, it hardly outstays its welcome. Yet, in places, I longed for a little more immediacy and punchiness. Slight tweaking of the mixing to add a bit more distortion and bite to the riffing wouldn’t have gone amiss at times either. Nonetheless, these are minor quibbles and the highpoints on this record are impressive, particularly on “Betrayal”, “Rest in Flames”, “The Oath” and “Retribution”. The future is bright for this Portuguese outfit and with an upcoming appearance at the mighty Keep It True festival, these guys are definitely ones to watch.

THENWOTHM score: 7.5/10