The Deathcore genre has been a burgeoning scene for quite a while now, and GRAVEMIND have come to remind us (with a vengeance) that it isn't going anywhere anytime soon. An album comprised of pure energy, "The Deathgate" does not relent as it treads the roads of multiple Metal genres, yet manages to stay true to its technical Death Metal roots all the while. This one is definitely for fans of BEHEMOTH, although the record retains obvious originality in its quest to make one's head bang.

As the intro to the first track, "Eschaton", creeps into your ears like a silent, purposeful serpent, you might find yourself floating atop its gently rocking ocean waves of spoken words under a blackened nighttime sky; and then, BANG! The technical, brutal riffing explodes into being, backed by hammering, choppy drumbeats and a wicked low-end bass line which threaten your speakers like a bully on the playground. The talent that GRAVEMIND possesses is immediately apparent, and they do a great job at putting it on display for one and all.

As "Eschaton" slams to an abrupt close, the record's title track, "The Deathgate", spreads its wings immediately, and this is the song that did it for me. A pounding and accurate piece of Tech Death, "The Deathgate" is a decidedly perfect masterwork. GRAVEMIND have truly outdone themselves with this one, and, though it would seem impossible once the track's instant intensity takes hold, the song manages to increase the terror level upon level as it progresses into utter chaos without letting go. At this point, the dueling vocals shine amidst the layered crunch, and the listener knows that these guys mean business.

The remainder of "The Deathgate" chugs along quite well, only changing it up a little on track three, "Echo", which features a guest spot from Aidan Ellaz of the more hardcore metal group ALPHA WOLF. This song, as it is the meat between the bread of the EP, begins with a much different vibe than the rest of the album. GRAVEMIND succeeds at bringing groove to the table, and making it something palatable that ends up flowing perfectly with the rest of the record in its entirety.

With "Anaesthesia" and "Human" driving the album to its close, "The Deathgate" will keep fans captivated to the very last chord within the confines of its unstoppable brutality. The end result is an overall pleasurable adrenalin ride, which raises the pulse rate and doesn't bother wasting time with any so-called "filler" tracks along the way. It's hard to display originality in a genre that is constantly filled to overflowing with more and more artists every other second, but GRAVEMIND manages to do so with ease, and for that, this listener is very thankful. This is a prime example of Metal done right, and I hope that you all enjoy "The Deathgate" as much as I did, if not more.<