Primordial signed through Metal Blade and that's a really great news as now they could get the descent promotion and the attention they deserve. I don't know how to start this review, as I'm so much fond of this combo that the whole disc just impressed me. Let's go with the production, we can easily see that the studio budget has increased since "Storm Before Calm", the sound and the mastering are much more powerful and sharp. The very first tune "The Golden Spiral" immediately brings you to the foggy lands of Ireland, with a epic and war marching introduction, then Alan comes in with gained guitars. Then all of a sudden the hymns are melted with thrilling emotions and grandiose mid tempo melodies. The tunes mix different feelings such as melancholy you can find in "The Song Of The Tomb" and Irish wildness, savageness such as in "End Of All Times". The work of Alan on vocals is really impressing as he carries both loneliness and anger sentiments alternating clear vocals and shooting ones (i.e. : "Tragedy Birth"). He really knows how to give emotions to each tune and gives a very particular life to his lyrics. By the way, it's pretty easy to see Marcolin/Candlemass influences in many of Alan's parts (i.e. "The Coffin Ship"). I really like the epic drumming too in the intro of the first song and of marching tempo on "The Coffin Ships". Mick and Ciaran guitar parts have improved in a tremendous way, as their way of writing compositions are smoother but still aggressive. The acoustic introductions of songs are of great interest and gives a soul to songs. "The Gathering Wilderness" is a very accurate title album to define the Metal of this disc, and I'm astonished to find some many amazing ideas and emotions in a single album (read on Alan's lyrics). Primordial's kept their personal approach to Metal with strong epic parts. They went further with this release, and I should say they have written their best album so far. It'll be one of my top 5 albums for sure for a long time and I really don't know if those skilled Irish dudes could do better in future. Read of lyrics too as they're pretty amazing, "The Gathering Wilderness" sounds like triumph of human decadence.

Eric