Gateway to Selfdestruction: Sanctus : Mater : Scortum (Album Review)

Gateway to Selfdestruction - Sanctus : Mater : Scortum
Release date: 21/2/2020
Label: Northern Silence Productions
By: X.K


With their own experimental takes on the more depressive and atmospheric black metal sound Gateway to Selfdestruction is now ready to release their second album a little over three years after the debut. Some musical touches have changed within their sound but the band still maintained its core, and if you were to compare the two albums then they are both experimenting in each bizarre and rare way.
Many have never heard of these guys before, so change that and keep on reading. 

When I first came across their debut "Death, My Salvation" two years ago Gateway to Selfdestruction stood out to me in a way of always being fearless to express themselves without bindings. Mara, the female vocalist brings home a big part of what gives them their own far-out incomparable noise that with the rest of the band understands to have no restrictions on how the songs should be written, especially when it comes to riffs. The debut album sold me to a point of having it on repeat throughout the entire year.

Gateway to Selfdestruction Live at Death Rages On Festival - By Eva Nagler 

Talking about the lyrics and album concept that also stands out compared to what everyone else is expressing about, this release talks about the intense power struggle between mother and child in an environment formed by the mother's mental illness and her destructive abusive behavior. But also the secret within and how she comes off for the outside as a loving mother to display the "good side". This is massive knowledge to achieve the full experience of the record and once you hear it you will sincerely know why.

Having listened through "Sanctus : Mater : Scortum" the developmental parts are what you fall in love with here and they have taken it to another level. The album is to be heard in one straight hearing to obtain the atmosphere, which 'Void' really manages to capture the right introduction with the mindset of the story. Many of the songs sound similar but yet so far which is the magical balance created that makes it pleasing throughout. Where if we move on to 'The Red Thread' you can pick up not only the sadness in her voice but also disgust and hatred which I find very entrancing in this type of genre. From beginning to end there are pieces that differ and present a more vivid portrait of the story's originality for example with samples of crying babies, talks from the abusive mother and even some slightly happier placed moments as in 'Negata'. What I miss the most on this record is that same intense energy and toughness from the debut which I only seem to hear on 'Dark Poetry'.

Even though I had seen it going the direction of the debut, "Sanctus : Mater : Scortum" has many catchy ear-opening moments you do not hear usually, this record's biggest feature is the story and how the entire album approach it in the most genuine emotional atmospheric way. Its experimental path is brilliant all the way but her clean vocals should have been left out and sound just as abominable as on the first album, no improvements there. A lot of progressive and melodic elements have taken over even though every piece of instrumental detail marks this as an extraordinary encounter that touches you almost like it was your own story which is a colossal trait that the mix of the used German language and English also takes a large role of.


I give this album
Out of 6 

Favorite track: Dark Poetry, Utopia
Tracklist: 
  1. Void
  2. The Red Thread (https://www.youtube.com/watch_theredthread)
  3. Dark Poetry
  4. Negata
  5. Mirrors
  6. Negative Circles
  7. Utopia (https://www.youtube.com/watch_utopia)

Gateway to Selfdestruction Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/gateway2selfdestruction/


Northern Silence Productions Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/NorthernSilenceProductions/
Listen to the debut album "Death, My Salvation":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45H2v3rzmIs



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