Evolution has been a constant in this Finnish act’s style. Founded in 2004, Antipope started as a black metal band with progressive tendencies – eventually adding doom, gothic and industrial aspects to their sound. Doors of the Dead is the seventh studio album for the quartet, this scribe’s first experience in taking in their sound – and its quite an eclectic, engaging mixture chock full of progressive / traditional chops pushed into extreme measures that fuses decades of influences into this intriguing soundscape through these eight songs.
Upon initial passes the standout aspects that catch these ears immediately include the shape shifting speedy to controlled tempo / riff interplay which takes place often as well as the bard-like meets vicious blackened delivery from vocalist / guitarist Mikko Myllykangas. One specific song can go from blasting measures to Iron Maiden-like progressive / traditional/folk-ish cultural instrumental hallmarks as “The Maker” envelopes the listener through this cavalcade of sonic spectacles in a mood shifting manner over its 6:39 timeframe. Distorted / whispering vocal effects sit next to a normal Hansi K. / Blind Guardian-ish melodic texture for the slower, doomier “Brotherhood of Babylon”, the unison background vocals and circular, bluesy lead break giving the song this ancient, Alexander the Great meets mythological spirit. Engaging guitar play from Mikko and second guitarist Antti J. Karjalainen fills the landscape with a mix of clean ambiance, propulsive main riffs as well as thoughtful instrumental / lead parts – as songs like “A Ritual of Snake and Dove” as well as the left-field ballad “Sacrifice” showcase. The title cut is the longest track at 9:23, closing the record in full progressive, traditional metal ambiance – displaying everything from choirs to time signature fluctuations, strong bass/drum intuitive shifts, ideal twin guitar / cultural earworms, as well as this serene keyboard / acoustic guitar portion that helps convey time standing still out in the calm, natural beauty of the wilderness.
A year in the making, Doors of the Dead proves Antipope can take multiple subgenres of metal to blend their sound into something highly engaging and potent for long-term appeal, especially if you enjoy everything from progressive/traditional metal to the doom, gothic, industrial, and extreme/blackened angles they execute. If you’ve slept on the discography of these gentlemen, start here and work your way back into the crevices, as this scribe plans to do.