The Harbinger | Gates Of Hell | Inverse Records

Release Date: December 12th 2025

Format: Digital

Genre: Melodic Death/Doom Metal

Country: Finland

The Harbinger came together during a freezing Finnish winter in 2016, slowly chiseling their identity through line up changes and early releases. Their first EP “Shadows Dance” arrived through singles between 2020 and 2021, followed by “Dead Ends” in 2023, which showed a band growing more confident in their mix of sorrowful melodic doom and harsher death metal fire. With “Gates Of Hell”, released through Inverse Records, the band steps forward again with a darker and heavier approach.

“Gates Of Hell” moves with a steady, cold determination. The Harbinger leans into heavy melodic sensibilities, the kind that echo the greys of Finnish winters. The riffs shift between sorrow and aggression, while the guitars bring a clear nordic melodic streak that gives the songs character without softening them. The vocals travel across harsh roars and lower growls, pushing the narrative of inner struggle and psychological collapse. Nothing here feels ornamental, the band keeps the songwriting focused and consistent from start to finish.

There is a constant balance between weight and melody across the EP. The Harbinger works within the slow burning tension of doom but regularly lift the pace with sharper death metal movements. This contrast gives the EP its voice, creating a sound that is gloomy without sinking into monotony. You get the sense that the band understands exactly where their strengths lie, and they build every track around that core. The result is an EP that maintains atmosphere through its entire runtime, steady, heavy and bleak.

By the time “Gates Of Hell” reaches its closing track, the band’s identity feels firmly carved. This is a release aimed at listeners who enjoy sorrow-soaked melody wrapped inside harsh guitar work. It shows a band comfortable in their northern darkness, expanding their earlier direction with more focus and more intensity. The EP will likely resonate with fans of Finnish melodic death doom who want something honest, cold and heavy without unnecessary theatrics.

Score: 7.0

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/theharbingermetal

https://www.instagram.com/theharbingermetal

https://theharbingermetal.bandcamp.com