Review GATEKEEPER ‘From Western Shores’

Canadian epic metal force Gatekeeper first hit the scene in 2013 when they released their first EP called ‘Prophecy and Judgement’. However, it took a few more years until the band could finish their first full-length studio album ‘East of Sun’, which was released through Cruz Del Sur.

With ‘From Western Shores’ the second album of Jeff Black and his bandmates follows these days. In total, the guys have recorded eight epic metal tracks that sparkle with their class.

It is reserved for the title track to open the new album. A dramatic riff marks the beginning of an amazing album. This includes the high-pitched screams of vocalist Tyler Anderson establishing the frontman as a true metal siren. Anderson joined the band in 2022 and his addition has certainly benefited Gatekeeper’s sound.

Another line-up change is on guitar. It goes without saying that Jeff Black is still in the game. With Adam Bergen, however, he has a new companion at his side and the two guitarists seem to harmonize excellently.

Besides razor-sharp riffs and a thundering rhythm section, ‘From Western Shores’ also impresses with well-crafted melody lines, which make songs like ‘Shadow and Stone’ grow into true metal hymns.

Also the following ‘Exiled King’, thematically about Harald Hardrada, the last Viking king, should be listened to by fans of well done heavy metal. Powerful, melodic and with the typical ‘huu’-screams the piece takes you into the world of Vikings.

It gets faster with ‘Twisted Towers’ while with ‘Desert Winds’ the whole brilliance of epic metal blazes up. With ‘Keepers of the Gate’ the end of the record had been reached and as expected the epic keeps the high standard of this release.

‘From Western Shores’ makes the heart of every epic metal fan beat faster. The Canadians, in the meantime based in Vancouver, deliver an impressive sophomore album that even after multiple listens still brings out new details to the surface.