At the Gates - Definition and Overview

At the Gates are a now defunct melodic death metal band who virtually defined the genre. Combining the speed and anger of thrash metal with the burgeoning death metal scene in Gothenburg, Sweden at the time, they crafted a unique sound. The band originally formed in 1990. Their most famous album is Slaughter of the Soul, which was released in 1995. They are part of the New Wave of Swedish Death Metal which includes bands such as In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, Hypocrisy and Edge of Sanity among others.

When At the Gates broke up in 1996, drummer Adrian Erlandsson, bassist Jonas Björler and guitarist Anders Björler formed The Haunted while vocalist Tomas Lindberg bounced around between many groups including The Crown, Lock-Up, Nightrage and The Great Deceiver. Adrian Erlandsson left The Haunted to join UK black metal outfit Cradle of Filth later on.

Statistics

• Genre: Death metal
• Country: Sweden
• Status: Dissolved
• Time: 1990-1996

Members

• Tomas Lindberg - Vocals (1990-1996)
• Anders Björler - Guitar (1990-1996)
• Jonas Björler - Bass (1990-1996)
• Adrian Erlandsson - Drums (1990-1996)
• Alf Svensson - Guitar (1990-1993)
• Martin Larsson - Guitar (1993-1996)
• Tony Andersson - Bass (1992)

Discography

• Gardens of Grief (1991)
• The Red Sky is Ours (1992)
• With Fear I Kiss the Burning Darkness (1993)
• Terminal Spirit Disease (1994)
• Slaughter of the Soul (1995)
• Suicidal Final Art (2001) (Best-of compilation)