Ivory Gates are a Brazilian band that over the years has proposed a Heavy Metal genre with Progressive influences. The new album “Behind The Wall” was released on September 03, 2022 via Green Bronto Records and contains 8 medium-length tracks. Opener “The Book of Life” features technical guitar work, a killer bassline and solid, powerful drumming. The vocals are dynamic and add power to the sound, alternating with more melodic passages. A track with an interesting instrumental section in the middle section and some more Prog tempo changes. Powerful riffs and a more traditional heavy metal structure characterise “Prisoner” with engaging melodic refrains. Accelerations in the rhythm section characterise the style, while an interweaving of solos offers an interesting cue in the central instrumental section. A mixture of classic heavy metal sounds with melodic overtones blended with more tight and energetic passages. “Fall of Jericho” opens with heavy riffs and a deep, load-bearing bassline, the drumming is granitic and elaborate. The vocals are energetic and alternate with more melodic refrains, while the song is constantly evolving, touching on different genres of metal. Engaging and energetic, this track has a strong impact, showing a more aggressive side of the band, with the melodic parts acting as a counterbalance. Guitar aropeggios open “Leaves of Winter” to which is added a warm and expressive vocal. After a dreamy first part, with a change the song transforms into a pleasant ballad, increasing in intensity as the minutes go by and mellowing out among the record’s heaviest tracks. Returning to heavy metal sounds, “Good Enough” opens with an accelerated and elaborate rhythm section and interesting guitar work. Closer to the Heavy Metal sounds of the 90s and with some references to Prog, especially in the tempo changes, it offers an interesting instrumental section in the second half with the guitar as the protagonist. Entirely instrumental “Duality” offers interesting guitar and bass work with granitic drumming, technical passages and virtuosity that enhance the band’s technique. “Yesterday’s News” presents more classic metal sounds with well-constructed riffs and interesting tempo changes, the real added value of the track. The vocals are dynamic and interpret the lyrics with intensity, a song that interprets traditional sounds in a more modern key. The album closes with the title track “Behind the Wall,” an aggressive and tight track with heavy riffs and sounds enriched by tempo changes and accelerations. The central instrumental section and the choral parts in the finale are interesting, a track that powerfully concludes the album. An album that continues the band’s musical tradition, offering a heavy metal sound with some forays into prog. The retro traits are marked, with the band remaining one of the most interesting in the underground metal scene, experienced and with a solid sound. A pleasant album, in which I would have expected a more Progressive imprinting, but which nonetheless proposes a gritty Heavy Metal with some interesting ideas.
Tracklist
01. The Book of Life (07:33)
02. Prisoner (05:45)
03. Fall of Jericho (04:58)
04. Leaves of Winter (04:57)
05. Good Enough (05:02)
06. Duality (03:54)
07. Yesterday’s News (05:38)
08. Behind the Wall (06:00)
Lineup
Hugo Mazzotti / Bass, Cello
Thiago Siqueira / Drums
Matheus Armelin / Guitars
Felipe Travaglini / Vocals