This is an Epic Heavy Metal band from Lisbon, founded in 2021, with two former members of Ravensire. This is their debut album, their demo tape sold out a long time ago. Epic heavy metal is a term thrown about a lot, but this band OWN this style. From the first listen, I am gobsmacked by the power and emotion, helped immensely by the smooth female vocal tones from Ana.

‘The Oath’ is majestic, the guitar gallop, the tone of the riffs, its immersive, infectious and has a thunderous drum  performance underpinning a truly great track, that’ll go down a storm at Keep It True festival in Germany (the female fronted bands ruled last year IMO). ‘Chambers of Magic’ is a crowd pleaser, out of character it suddenly increases the pace and this is quite a turn of events from the rest of the release. It comes back down in pace terms on occasions, if you take all those elements of Manowar, Solstice, Visigoth, Smoulder et al, you get a complete picture. Dolmen Gate play out influences and hammer a great piece of music as their own in the process. ‘Horizon’s Call’ provides a more doom inspired approach. Again, there are places within this track that glamorizes fist and beer raising along the journey, the bridge leading into the solo hammers home well founded strength, I like the touch of double kick drumming during this too. ‘Retribution’ hits hard at its start. It’s a battle royal, crushing ones enemies and taking the fantasy element to another level. ‘Rest in Flames’ is pure early Manowar, galloping strength, power, and kicks your arse, this is a crowd pleaser.

The overall presentation of this album should sit high with all fans of this sub-genre. There is plenty of power, epic metal sensibilities are on display at every single quarter of this release. This is one of the most enjoyable albums I have listened to this year, it’s truly great, they should be very successful and on the tip of everyone’s tongue when this album is released. Steller work, as mentioned early, but I’ll summarize, it is a power and majestic take on the epic heavy metal spectrum taking on influences from all the trailblazers. Dolmen Gate are paving their own path and succeed giving the listener many minutes of listening pleasure.

(9.5/10 Paul Maddison)

https://www.facebook.com/DolmenGate

https://dolmengate.bandcamp.com/album/gateways-of-eternity-2