There aren't enough 80's style doom bands around these days. There are more bands than you can shake a stick at influenced by the first wave of doom of circa '68-'73, and far far too many bands in the funeral doom/extreme doom/drone whatever genre, but far too few take their cues from the golden era of the mid '80s.
Back when doom was still in every discernable way the evil twin of classic heavy metal, before bands like Kyuss and Sleep came along and influenced a whole new generation of bands, making the distinction between doom and stoner increasingly difficult to such a degree that by 2009 the two genres have more often than not merged into one and the same.
Then along comes The Gates Of Slumber with their fourth album, one that would sit quite comfortably on the shelf next to Candlemass, St. Vitus, Witchfinder General and Pagan Altar, with more than a few nods to these heroes of old. Is it a coincidence that Iron Hammer namedrops a vintage Trouble song in its very first line? Like hell it is.
Add to this a crummily organic, analogue sounding production, some of the most fun drumming I've heard on a heavy record since Stanton Moore tore Corrosion of Conformity a new asshole on In The Arms Of God four years ago, and an album cover worthy of Cirith Ungol and you got yourself an instant classic.
http://metalbastard.blogspot.com/2009/1 ... 20-11.html