For anyone who had the privilege to hear The Gates Of Slumber's last release 'Suffer No Guilt' will already know that to follow such an album was always going to be a tough ask let alone try to surpass it, and for those who let 'Suffer' pass them by....you fools. The Gates Of Slumber have always preached from the book of true Doom and drank from the fountain of Black Sabbath and St. Vitus, forgoing all distractions and deviations to remain true to their vision to produce truly crushing metal.

In 'Conqueror' The Gates Of Slumber could have quite possibly produced one of the best Doom records not only of 2008 but of recent memory. A boast not made idly as the albums grandeur appears to know no bounds as listen after listen the thundering vocals of Karl Simon and his tomb stone heavy guitar riffs leave your ears all but bleeding. The balance between the more 'traditional' slower paced songs, like the title track and 'To Kill And Be King' and the more mid paced tracks is managed magnificently, creating an ebb and flow to the record while loosing none of it's intense heaviness.

With the lyrical inspiration coming predominantly from the works of Robert E. Howard and his Cimmerian world, Conan provides the perfect classic metal subject matter and with Simon's ability to write lyrics that not only fit completely with the music but also paints such vivid images it is hard not to be totally drawn into The Gates Of Slumbers world. Recorded in analog, 'Conqueror' has an earthiness that harks back to the sort of bands that help define what The Gates Of Slumber have become, tapping into what is quintessentially metal while remaining clique free.  

Only time will tell if 'Conqueror' is to take a place in the annals of being a Doom classic to sit along side the likes of 'Born To Late' or 'In The Rectory Of The Bizarre Reverend' but one thing is for certain based on this offering alone The Gates Of Slumber are set to destroy everything in their path in savage fashion. To aspire to great heights is one thing but to soar so close to achieving them is quite another and this will be a tough album to better.