Alastor does something Master once did by releasing their “lost” first album.
‘Gates of Darkness’, was recorded in 1996 and remastered in 2022, with Haloran Records issuing it in 2023. If you’ve just read my thoughts on ‘The Unholy Hordes’, you’ll find that ‘Gates of Darkness’, is much closer to old school Black/Thrash. I can’t say for sure if it’s just the time it was made, but ‘Gates of Darkness’, was recorded with the spirit and sound of the 80s. Think of early Venom, Bathory, Kreator, Necrodeath, Slayer, and wailing guitars.
If Alastor asked for my advice, I’d tell them to return to this style, as it’s full of charm and ranks higher for me than their more recent material.
