Name: An Unexpected Reality
Brand: Gatecreeper

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

CLCR084V2

Colour

Blue

Colour details

Blue and Silver Mix with White Splatter Vinyl

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2024-05-17

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

The Orchard

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

198391184963

Total Cap

Blue LP

Artist

Gatecreeper

Genre GB

Metal

Label GB

Closed Casket Activities

Gatecreeper is a death metal band hailing from Phoenix / Tucson, Arizona, United States. With their brutal and uncompromising sound, they have become one of the leading forces in the genre. Drawing inspiration from classic death metal bands, Gatecreeper infuses their music with a modern twist that captivates audiences worldwide.

Known for their intense live performances and crushing riffs, Gatecreeper has gained a loyal following within the metal community. Their music combines elements of old-school death metal with a raw and aggressive energy that leaves listeners craving more. Influenced by bands such as Tomb Mold, Fuming Mouth, and Witch Vomit, Gatecreeper's unique blend of heaviness and melody sets them apart from their peers.

With an impressive discography under their belt including albums like "Sonoran Depravation" and "Deserted," Gatecreeper continues to push the boundaries of death metal. Their powerful vocals, thunderous drums, and relentless guitar work create an atmosphere that transports listeners into a world of darkness and despair.

Closed Casket Activities is an independent metal influenced hardcore label based in Troy, New York. With a passion for heavy music and a commitment to supporting underground artists, the label has become a respected authority in the scene.

Founded by [founder's name] in [year], Closed Casket Activities has been dedicated to discovering and promoting talented bands that push the boundaries of hardcore music. The label's roster includes some of the most influential and innovative acts in the genre.

From releasing albums that challenge societal norms to organizing tours that bring their intense live performances to fans around the world, Closed Casket Activities continues to make a significant impact on the hardcore community. With their unwavering dedication and uncompromising vision, they have solidified their position as one of the leading labels in metal influenced hardcore music.

Newest Listed Items

In a world of announcements of announcements, Gatecreeper are firing no warning shots before dropping their new release. “I think the social media environment has just fried our attention spans,” vocalist Chase Mason says. “Trying to hold someone’s attention for two or three months with a typical album roll-out doesn’t seem feasible with everything else currently going on in the world.” That’s not the only reason An Unexpected Reality comes with no pre-release hype whatsoever. “It’s meant to be listened to as a whole, so we didn’t wanna break it up or release a couple songs ahead of time as ‘singles’ or whatever,” Mason clarifies. “We also didn’t wanna treat it like it’s our next full-length. Because it’s not.” Written, recorded and now released during the Covid-19 pandemic, An Unexpected Reality is Gatecreeper like you’ve never heard them before. Exploring both ends of the tempo spectrum, the release offers two opposing sides of the band’s musical personality. Side one consists of seven short, sharp shocks that have a total running time of less than seven minutes. Inspired by grind, punk and hardcore, tracks like “Starved,” “Rusted Gold” and “Amputation” are some of the fastest offerings the Arizona death metal squad has ever recorded. Side two is the exact opposite. Consisting of a single 11-minute track entitled “Emptiness,” this is Gatecreeper at their slowest and most funereal. Think of it as an extended version of the death-doom tracks that the band closed out Sonoran Depravation and Deserted with. “I’ve had the idea to do a record like this for a while,” Mason offers. “In 2020 we were supposed to be touring all year. Once everything got cancelled, we decided it was the perfect time to turn this idea into a reality.” When Gatecreeper were getting into writing mode for An Unexpected Reality, Mason brought a new list of influences to the table, ranging from grindcore and Scandanavian hardcore to funeral doom and black = metal. The rip-roaring abandon of side one takes its cues from Napalm Death, Totalitär, Terrorizer and Master. The keening funeral doom of “Emptiness” was informed by the likes of Mournful Congregation, Paradise Lost, Evoken and Katatonia. The format of An Unexpected Reality was partly inspired by Black Flag’s My War, an album that famously polarized fans in 1984 with fast, thrashy songs on side A and three long, slow and sludgy tracks on the flipside. “When I was getting really into sludge and stoner metal like the Melvins and Eyehategod, they always referenced the B-side of My War,” Mason says. “Hearing bands talk about not just a record but a specific side of a record, I thought that was really cool and it always stuck with me.” Tempo and length aren’t the only anomalies on An Unexpected Reality. “We usually have a hard rule in Gatecreeper that we don’t have blast beats,” Mason points out. “But for the first side of this record we lifted that rule and ran with it.” Given that An Unexpected Reality was created entirely during the pandemic, it’s no surprise that some of the songs bear its unmistakable mark. “Superspreader” is a prime example. “That song was written when Arizona was the number one Covid hotspot in the world,” Mason explains. “The whole record was actually recorded during that time as well.” “Sick Of Being Sober” hits even closer to home for Mason, whose recovery from addiction is well documented.

An Unexpected Reality

Music GB

Discover An Unexpected Reality by Gatecreeper on vinyl from Closed Casket Activities. A unique release with fast and slow tempos, influenced by grindcore and funeral doom.