Patrons of the Rotting Gate - Bathed in Ash

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Let’s start with the positives, anyone whom writes the songs and plays all the instruments, does the majority of the vocals, produces, and the artwork on their own deserves major kudos, it is a herculean task.  And this is exactly what Andrew Ross Millar does on this the Belfast mans 2^nd full length album (and throw in a couple of Eps too). However, the talent and skill this takes doesn’t mean the end product is going to be universally liked, and I am afraid to say, this reviewer did not like this at all, and I am truly sorry to Mr Millar for the following review.

I have seen PATRONS OF THE ROTTING GATE’s music described of “Progressive Black Metal”.  I’m sorry but I found nothing Progressive about the songs on display. I will not dispute the Black Metal part, the “music” is a relentless, aggressive, battering ram of sludgy sound with an incomprehensible screaming, growling vocal over the top of it all.

The Lyrics were included in the package for me to review. Sorry but for all their stark poetry and clever use of long words and the nihilistic imagery these words conjure up to the reader, none of this is conveyed, for me, in the delivery.  I enjoyed reading the lyrics (well not exactly the right way of putting it, but it will have to do), but the greater pleasure comes from reading the words and gaining greater understanding of their meaning and how they fit into the music. For me that was missing.

I am going to cut this review short, as I really don’t like to be negative about something that one person has put lots of effort, time and talent into creating, just because it doesn’t work for me.  I hope fans of this genre get a lot out of this music, just I cannot.

Songwriting: 3
Originality: 3
Memorability: 3
Production: 3