We face a new threat, a threat so terrifying that it brings us to our knees in fear, a war is looming, a War with Reality!

It has been many years since the band AT THE GATES released a studio album, not since nineteen ninety five's "Slaughter Of The Soul" have we seen a single drop of new material from the Swedish Melodic Death Metal titans, but with news of a new record, and a new tour on the way we see that the band are still eager to blind us all with fear.

Before we start I would like to personally say what an honor it is to be reviewing this album, AT THE GATES have always been a massively important part of my life as a music fan and I feel pride in writing this piece. I decided to start off with the title track "At War With Reality", the track starts with this intense opening both fast and also familiar, at first you would think that this song was meant to be an additional carry on from previous unheard recordings, but as the song continues there is a new and even more melodic guitar tone then previous songs recorded in the past, it is as if the band have aged their style to a point where they have been able to add unknown and much more exciting elements to their way of playing, I would say that this is a brilliant return to form, I would also say that there are those who were probably thinking that with a new album the band would have changed for the bad, instead we have been given a blast from the past with both extra energy to spare and a new goal to set.

Many would have started to think that with any return of their favorite bands there would either be a drastic change or an unfamiliar tone to which they would not recognize as there band, with the return of AT THE GATES there shows hope as with new and more exciting material being born there comes a new and more energized fan base, with the creation of "At War With Reality" we find ourselves brought to an era of where the band had left off, as with "Slaughter Of The Soul" we saw the bands masterpiece born as there last album, but maybe with this recent creation we might see a rival against the mighty classic.

The next track I have chosen to review is the albums second song "Death and the Labyrinth", as with the title track "Death and the Labyrinth" holds many familiar elements to which makes the bands tone very well known, the idea placed behind it shows that Tomas still holds the same aggression that he is known for on stage, and with this it will also show on stage, as we have seen in the past Tomas has a distinct way of working his voice giving him a very unique take on the death metal vocal style, throughout the song we find a new standing with the band, this can be said in a very proud tone of voice as with how "Death and the Labyrinth" turned out we see a new more energized AT THE GATES.

To conclude it can be said that this album will be worth the wait for any Melodic Death Metal fans and for the old school AT THE GATES fans, this truly is something to be proud of, strong and stands on its own is how I would describe how the band have made this record and personally I cannot wait to get my hands on it.