The Gates of Slumber

Although the emergence of a precisely calibrated doom metal band from Indiana might seem improbable at first glance, the state's relative isolation from mainstream pop trends perhaps accounts for the development. Based in the capital city, the Gates of Slumber began concentrating on a deliberate, sludgy, and unhurried approach to metal near the end of the 1990s. With guitarist and vocalist Karl Simon at the helm, and the lineup completed by bassist Jason McCash along with several drummers—the most recent being "Iron" Bob Fouts—the group issued its debut full-length, The Awakening, through Final Chapter in 2004. Prior to that release, assorted demos and compilation tracks had already appeared, while subsequent years brought additional compilations and two EPs. The band's first substantial statement arrived in 2006 with Suffer No Guilt on I Hate Records, an album that drew strong approval from the metal press, including a 4 K rating in Kerrang! magazine. Most of 2007 involved split releases and further compilation contributions, after which Conqueror emerged in 2008 as a co-release between Profound Lore and I Hate Records.