Two big bits of At the Gates or At the Gates-adjacent news today:
First, the Swedish melodeath legends have finished recording their seventh album. Recording of their latest offering began late last year at Studio Grundle Gröndahl.
According to a Facebook post from the band (below), the record is now being mixed by Jens Bogren (Dark Tranquillity, BTBAM, Enslaved, etc) at his Fascination Street Studios. So it’s probably safe to assume we’ll get to hear this motherfucker before the end of 2021.
Second, At the Gates frontman Tomas Lindberg has rejoined the deathgrind supergroup Lock Up, the current iteration of which also includes Shane Embury (Napalm Death, Venomous Concept, etc.) and, as of last year, Adam Jarvis (Pig Destroyer, Misery Index, etc.). Lindberg replaced Hypocrisy’s Peter Tägtgren in that band in 2002 before being replaced himself in 2014 by Brutal Truth’s Kevin Sharp.
Here’s where things get interesting: Sharp isn’t leaving the project! Instead, he and Lindberg will be co-frontmen. That could potentially end up making Lock Up extra super-duper awesome.
We’ll get to find out soon enough: Lock Up’s next album, The Dregs of Hades, is tentatively scheduled for a fall release. It will not only mark Lindberg’s return to the fold, but it will be Jarvis’ recording debut with the band as well.
Says Lindberg of the reunion:
“I can’t begin to explain how chuffed I am to be back with these, my favourite grinding beasts. When Shane approached me about rejoining, being part of a dual vokill attack together with Kevin, I said yes straight away. I love the Demonization album, and Kevin‘s vocal delivery there.
“So, I was very curious and excited to work together with him, writing and arranging lyrics. My idea is that we have very different vocal styles, and that deathgrind fans now will get the best of both worlds. Adding Adam Jarvis to the mix has been nothing but a success as well, his relentless bashing has mos def added an extra dimension to the Lock Up sound. It will be a total blast performing these new tracks in front of a crowd, these are full on old-school deathgrind ragers! Again; chuffed!”
Adds Jarvis:
“When Shane [Embury] first asked me to join the already elite league of extraordinary gentlemen I was beyond ecstatic! THEN…. I find out Tompa was rejoining the band and I went bananas! So excited for everyone to hear what madness we’ve created so far, and for a double assault from Kevin and Tompa that is bound to make you want to punch stuff!”
Concludes Embury:
“I have said before on many occasions that creating songs, recording and playing shows with Lock Up since the band’s inception in 1998 has always been hinged on madness and old-fashioned grindcore comradery!
“When we discussed the possibility of another album it made sense I felt to push the insanity further down the rabbit hole and ask Tompa to rejoin The Dregs of Hades to front the band alongside Kevin Sharp – ha! I have always loved that two singer approach, if done right it’s marvelous dynamics, and believe me, this next album is doing it right!!!
“When festivals do finally return it’s gonna be a lot of fun and that’s what counts in the end… be prepared!”
You’ll know more when we do…