Anubis Gate – Interference

The release of the new Anubis Gate album has been one of the most anticipated releases of 2023 amongst power prog enthusiasts. Although the band released a highly acclaimed album of covers (though “Covered In Colours” can be considered more of a tribute album, since the songs were redone completely in Anubis Gate-style) less than 3 years ago, “Interference” has been 6 years in the making. Having taken a darker turn on their album “Covered in black”, will the Danes stay their course? Or go in an entirely different direction all together?

The band shows in the first few songs that their approach to their newest release is definitely more diversified. Opener ‘Emergence’ kicks in the door right off the bat and starts fast-paced, only to slow down a little with ‘Ignorance Is Bliss’ until halfway through the song when the heavy riffing picks back up. Anubis Gate has been known not to shy away from the electronic beats combined with synths and return to that on this album as well: intros starting with an electronic beat, and several songs interspersed with gloomy electric organ-like synth sounds.

“Interference” sure shows their heavier side with songs like the album opener ‘Emergence’, ‘Equations’ and the fast paced ‘World Of Clay’ packing a definite punch. Kim Olesen and Michael Bodin together with the bass riffs by Henrik Fevre manage to give even a mid-tempo song like ‘The Intergalactic Dream Of Stardom’ a heavy feel with their syncopated guitar riffs, in teamwork with controlled drums by Morten Gade Sørensen.

The bands less heavy influences shine through in songs like ‘Ignorance Is Bliss’ and ‘Number Stations’. The latter starts off with an obvious musical tribute to Pink Floyd with a haunting synth melody, supported by controlled, reigned in drums by Morten. Combining that intro with one of the most varied, proggiest songs on the album, makes this one of my favorites on the album. The way the guitar riffs play around the polyrhythmic drum parts forces the listener to pay attention to everything that’s going on, only to discover new emphases on a fresh playthrough. The song fades out in a beautiful double guitar lead that shows not all solos have to be fast in order to be heartbreakingly good.

That honor of absolute personal favourite goes to the album’s title song, ‘Interference’. During this song the band shows why they belong in the higher echelons of the progressive music scene. The song has a trip hop-like intro, the beat of which returns during several parts of the song. After setting the theme for almost 4 minutes, making the listener wonder if this track is going to be an instrumental, Henrik drops in with some of his best work on the album. Followed by some great guitar work by Kim and Michael. And due to Jacob Hansen’s excellent mixing work, no instruments fade into the background. Every single instrument gets its time to shine on this album.

Anubis Gate close off the album with one of the more haunting and dark, songs of the album. ‘Absence’ lyrically seemingly describes a world drawing into night, with the narrator saying it’s finally much too late for goodbyes. After which, with the final wink to Gilmour the album fades out with a haunting, dramatic guitar solo that’s designed to tug on the heart strings.

While “Interference” is in certain ways new and diverse, and will take several listens to fully grasp and appreciate, it is also very much in line with the Anubis Gate sound established on every single release by the band since their formation in 2003. With this album the listener should be ready to be taken on an emotional musical rollercoaster, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this album topped many a release-of-the-year list.

Tracklist:

1. Emergence
2. Ignorance Is Bliss
3. Number Stations
4. The Phoenix
5. Equations
6. Dissonance Consonance
7. The Intergalatic Dream of Stardom
8. World of Clay
9. Interference
10. Absence