Conqueror

The Gates of Slumber’s vinyl reissues out in November via Svart Records Svart Records are proud to bring back the classic albums Suffer No Guilt and Conqueror by Indiana’s true doom metal legends The Gates of Slumber in November 2025. Conqueror is the band’s third album originally released in 2008. With a dark and apocalyptic atmosphere, the band successfully mixes the occult sound of late ‘70s metal with a hint of ‘80s metal anthems, and the 2000's sound with modern production. Impeccable songwriting, a little Saint Vitus, a sprinkle of pulp horror, and a slither of Lucio Fulci’s eeriness makes Conqueror a true classic, successfully mediating between modern doom and the sound of the pioneering bands of the genre. The Gates of Slumber was formed by Karl Simon in 1998. Various people were in and out of the group between 1998 and 2001, when the Blood Encrusted Deth Axe demo was recorded with Jamie Walters aka Dr. Phibes/Athenar (Boulder, Midnight) on drums and bass. In 2003 Jason McCash took over the bass duties and was a long-time member of the band until his untimely demise in 2014, after which Simon decided it was time to call it quits. That was until 2019 when the renowned metal festival Hell Over Hammaburg wanted to bring the band back on stage to perform at the festival’s 2020 edition. Simon reformed the band with its original member Chuck Brown on drums and Steve Janiak on bass and got back to work, which resulted in the new self-titled album released in 2024 on Svart Records. Having toured with Pentagram, Reverend Bizarre, Cathedral, Slough Feg, Earthride, and Weedeater in addition to getting praised by Decibel Magazine such as “The Gates of Slumber have quietly gone about the business of becoming one of the best heavy metal bands in the world.”, it’s safe to say The Gates of Slumber play some of the heaviest metal on this planet.