GATECLOSER – From The Wasteland

Calling themselves Conceptual Metal, Italy’s Gatecloser drops their full-length debut album From The Wasteland, a mixed bag of styles and song structures. The “conceptual” refers both to these multiple styles as well as the lyrical and thematic content of the album itself. Quoting promotional material for the band, their namesake/mascot is “based on the inevitable presence of “The Gatecloser” in everyone’s life. He is the personification of time, an impartial supreme judge guarding his own gate, waiting for the right moment to open it and unleash his power.” Throughout the album, the Gatecloser dispenses advice and vengeance is generous doses, moving mysteriously through the songs as the main protagonist or figure lurking in the background.

The album works well as a narrative thread, the concept managing to work cohesively without overburdening any of the individual songs, primarily because Gatecloser, the band, can handle multiple musical styles effortlessly. From the Wasteland delivers solid slabs of Thrash Metal, Classic Metal, Power and Melodic Metal, sometimes within the same song.

The title cut is primarily there to set the mood, a musical “establishing shot” for the story to follow. Next up is “The Crow”, which bounces into life with some rolling bass before being joined by a climbing guitar figure and rapid-fire Thrash drumming. Gatecloser then defy expectations by dropping the assault when the vocal kicks in, shifting seamlessly into a Classic Metal mode that gives singer Stefano Tarroni some room to work. “The Crow” impresses as Gatecloser present as a band with balance; all four musicians have something to contribute.

The team effort continues with “Bury Him Alive”,  as perfect a Thrash romp as one is likely to find on a modern Metal album, one with a chorus so catchy one suspects The Gatecloser of hypnotizing listeners into joining in by the second verse: “Burn him with fire/Smash him with stones”. Once the world is able to attend live shows again, “Bury Him Alive” is going to tear the roof off of every venue Gatecloser gets to play.

From The Wasteland is a worthy purchase for those two songs alone, but the remainder of the album is filled with solid Thrash and Classic-inflected Tunes. Of note is “Take My Hand”, which begins with a slow cadence similar to some of Metallica’s more balladlike tunes, before erupting into a full-on Thrash attack.  “Will Of The Dark” follows, incorporating Shoegazer elements to provide a short respite from the more aggressive material.

Having a mascot, and naming your band after that mascot might have merchandising potential but can also be limiting artistically, especially if the mascot’s characteristics are too specific. The reason Iron Maiden’s Eddie works so well is because he can be anything, or anyone, in any time period. Gatecloser’s Gatecloser finishes From The Wasteland by closing his gate; listeners to this stellar debut album will be eagerly awaiting for him to open it once again.