Search - Gateway to Hell-Tribute to Slayer :: Vol. 1-Gateway to Hell-Tribute to Slayer

This CD wasn't all bad

reverend_badger | Seattle, WA | 12/06/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I really like Dark Funeral and Monstrosity. There were a couple bad tracks but all and all a good CD for any one who likes Slayer."

A Great Tribute To Slayer

Twitch | Atlanta, GA | 04/27/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For the most part, tribute albums are filled with random obscure (and untalented) underground bands that butcher classic music, but `Gateway to Hell: A Tribute to Slayer' is one of the few tributes that actually deserve a listen to. Though I am not a fan of track by track reviews, I feel that the form is appropriate for this album.1. Dark Funeral "Dead Skin Mask" 4 / 5Dark Funeral does a great job covering the Slayer classic. The black metal take on it sounds very unique.2. Monstrosity "Angel of Death" 5 / 5The best on the album. It takes a lot of b a l l s to cover such a legendary track. It takes even more to do it almost as good as the original. Truly death metal at its finest.3. Aurora Borealis "Altar of Sacrifice" 4.5 / 5The death / black metal stylings of these American metal greats do a great job taking an already great track and adding their own touch to it.4. Sadistic Intent "Necrophiliac" 5 / 5An absolutely incredible rendition of a true Slayer classic. A band as talented as Sadistic Intent should not be over looked.5. From the Depths "Epidemic" 3 / 5A solid cover. I would have expected From the Depths to do a better job than this, but still good none the less.6. Infamy "Read Between the Lies" 3.5 / 5Another solid cover. Not the best on the album but still pretty d a m n good. It falls into the same category as "Epidemic".7. Diabolic "Killing Fields" 2 / 5Right behind "Die by the Sword" for worst track on the album. Thank God their debut - `Supreme Evil' - did not sound this bad.8. Coffin Texts "Crypts of Eternity" 5 / 5A brilliant rendition of "Crypts of Eternity" by one of the best and most brutal death / grind bands out there. Dying Fetus might want to watch their backs.9. Draconis "The Final Command" 4 / 5The official debut from Draconis! They have done a great job covering "The Final Command". I must recommend that you pick up their debut album - `Overlords of the Greying Dawn', it is amazing!10. Evil Incarnate "Die by the Sword" 1 / 5Evil Incarnate destroy this Slayer classic. "[U]ltimate Satanic tribute to the gods of thrash metal"? Hardly.11. Thy Darkest Empire "At Dawn They Sleep" 4 / 5Another great black metal cover. With the exception of Impaled Nazarene, I never heard thrash and black metal that went so well together.12. Imprecation "Shown No Mercy" 4.5 / 5Incredibly heavy death influenced war metal. Imprecation bring out a side of Slayer that has never been seen or heard before. Excellent.13. Somnus "Seasons in the Abyss" 4 / 5Experimental and mesmerizing. Somnus's take of "Seasons in the Abyss" is probably the most unique sounding track on the album. Slayer with keyboards, who would have thought?I think by now you have gotten the idea. I know that a lot of people have bashed this album for not capturing Slayer's perfection. But let's be honest, how many bands have ever captured the energy and abrasiveness of Slayer? None. So focus on the music that these bands are playing. With the exception of Diabolic and Evil Incarnate the album is excellent. This is one tribute you should not pass!"

This is for TRUE Slayer fans!!!

Twitch | 02/26/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD and I enjoy it! Of course some bands do better jobs than others but that is quite normal for tributes. Most of the songs on this disc are old SLAYER songs and those happen to be my faves!! I think the highlights on this record are the versions by DARK FUNERAL (SWEDISH BLACK METAL GREATS!), SADISTIC INTENT (LOOK OUT FOR THESE GUYS! THEY ARE THE NEXT GODS OF EXTREME METAL!!), MONSTROSITY, COFFIN TEXTS and a few others! Most of the bands are Death/Black Metal and their versions are very HEAVY!! If you are a new fan of SLAYER I don't recommend it to you because "Diabolis..." is way different than the classic Slaytanic releases such as "Hell Awaits", "Show No Mercy", "Reign In Blood" and so on. However, if you like old SLAYER and want to find out about some new killer bands influenced by them, check out this release! Don't expect the songs to sound exactly like SLAYER though, if they did, what would be the point?! If that was the case, you might as well listen to the originals right! Anyhow, as a diehard fan of SLAYER who seen them back in the "Reign In Blood" tour and misses that era, support these bands!!! They are the next generation of Metal keeping the old essence of SLAYER alive!"