Gatecreeper - An Unexpected Reality (2021) Hi-Res

Ever since Gatecreeper marked their debut with 2016’s Sonoran Depravation, they’ve marched to the front lines of death metal’s most revered new acts. Furthermore, with their sophomore release, Deserted (2019), they not only cemented their status as an essential new death metal band, but also as one of modern metal’s best new bands. And with Deserted, Gatecreeper flawlessly showcased how to appeal death metal to a wider audience — the linear yet hooky song structure became a one two punch for non-death metal fans, while the masterful production and musicianship spoke to death metal disciples. With that in mind, it’s easy to imagine the excitement that came when Gatecreeper surprise released a new album this past Wednesday.

An Unexpected Reality is Gatecreeper’s most adventurous work to date, clocking in at only 17 mins across its eight total tracks. The record was very much constructed around a traditional vinyl release, as the album is stylistically divided into two halves — side A is labeled as the “Fast Side” and side B is contrastingly labeled “Slow Side.” Each side showcases the band’s affinity for sub-genres that are otherwise absent from their previous records. Specifically with side A, Gatecreeper whip you through a flurry of punk, hardcore, and grind based tracks, while of course, maintaining their dominant death metal aesthetic. Side B on the other hand is a different story, as it’s a single 11 minute track of pure doom and gloom.

In a press release vocalist Chase Mason says this album format was largely inspired by Black Flag’s 1984 record, My War — a record that polarized many fans at the time for its stylistic contrasts between its A and B side.