Twelfth Gate
Summoning

May 2003
Released: 2003, Crash Music
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: Rick

Rising from the ashes of Chicago band Syris comes a new force on the US metal landscape. Twelfth Gate have emerged to fight the good fight in the battle to bring real metal back to the American masses. Former members of Syris Scott Huffman (vocals) and Rob Such (bass) joined forces with Rich Knight (guitars) and Mike Nevaril (drums) in 2000. The released their first demo in 2001 and on the strength of that release were opening shows by Flotsam and jetsam, Helstar and Steel Prophet. In fact, Twelfth Gates shares many similatrities with these bands. They have the thrash influence of Flotsam, a slight powermetal leaning ala Steel Prophet but the biggest similarity of to Helstar. Twelfth Gate have the same thrashy traditional metal sound that has been that hallmark of Helstar and James Rivera’s other outfit Destiny’s End. Huffman is a powerful presence behind the mic and really adds some character to this up and coming quartet.



SUMMONNING is 11 tracks of full bore metal played with conviction and dare I say it.. balls!!! “”Mortal Coil” opens the CD one of the thrashier tracks on the CD along with one of the best. With so many Cds on my desk to review I threw on a bunch and this was the song that grabbed me right away and made me want to hear more. “Orpheus” starts with a very subdued and atmospheric intro before it moves to a climactic conclusion that sounds almost Iron Maidenish. The sound the band creates is very loose and to their credit not overproduced. I always find it amazing that bands take perfect song and produce it to death taking all the character out of it. Twelfth Gate know that they have to sound good but the production is very loose and raw and perfect for the bands vision. The CD closes with the foreboding “Forgotten Names. This tale of torment closes out the CD with another touch of thrash inspired metal.



I didn’t know what to expect from this band as I had never heard any Syris before. There is a such a proliferation of bands with Gate in their name its hard to keep them all straight. This one that I am sure will rise above the others. Twelfth Gate are the raw descendents of such great bands as Helstar and Heathen. Their sound is a breath of refreshing air at a time when many bands are overproducing their product. I am sure that no matter how many gates out there the twelfth will always been the one to open.