Credits:The Gates Of SlumberDescription:HailingfromtheteemingheavymetalmetropolisofIndianapolis(not!),wheretheirdebutalbum,TheAwakening,fermentedforoverhalf-a-decadebeforeseeingthelightofday,theGatesofSlumberwereautomaticallybelievedtobeadoomband--inlargepartbecauseoftheirrathersuggestivemoniker,butalsobecauseactualcopiesofthefriggin'recordweresodamnhardtofind!Ofcourse,oncesecured,saidalbum'scontentsshowedthatthegroup'sstylistictouchstonesrangeacrosstheclassicmetalspectrum:fromSabbath,toPriest,toMaiden,withotherunexpectedstopsalongtheway(moreonthatbelow),whichisagoodthingsincethedoomiersongsfoundheretendtobetheweakestofthelot.Caseinpoint:openingepic"TheAwakening(InterpolatingtheWrathoftheUndead)"--alethargic,lumberingbeastintroducedbyscreamsofthecondemned,which,exceptforitsoccasionalhammer-onleadbreaksandunexpectedspeedmetalbursttowardstheend,doesnotbodewellforwhat'stofollow.Nextcut,"TheJudge,"provessimilarlyanemic,buttheGate