Metal Underground.com

The band description has them down briefly as a true metal outfit, but there is no doubt in my mind that this can be thought of as pure doom by any means. There’s certainly the downtrodden vibe that can be derived from that particular genre, although a more traditional flavour is definitely given off similar to early Sabbath rather than the slow funeral doom you’re able to find elsewhere.

However, there is also a down-side to the style, a certain amount of extremity is withheld. This shows a band comfortable within the style they play and there’s certainly a need to play as truly as possible, which lends a credibility to their sound. However, the problem is that The Gates of Slumber could throw in some slightly more interesting curves to brighten up their sounds somewhat. This problem can be seen on the last track, which has moments of tedium compared to the grooves found within "Ice Worm," for example.

The Gates of Slumber is best when throwing around jives and bringing out the best of their sound, however. When they slow down too much, they can be seen to get into these little ruts that take away some of the passion that they try to display so vehemently.

It’s a good idea to leave the more slow funeral type stuff for the bands of that particular genre and that they play their own brand of traditional doom. "Conqueror" thus comes recommended to fans of the latter genre, as they should be able to take the most out of the album overall.