Narnia - Enter the Gate (8 tracks) +Album Reviews

Majestic melodic heavy metal

rageofcreation | Kansas, USA | 10/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Narnia are one of the better metal bands out there today. This is some really great traditional heavy metal with progressive and power metal influences. The vocals are mid-range and not too over the top so people who are turned off by the high pitched squeals of bands like Stratovarius will appreciate that. Their singer actually has a unique agressive tone yet all the while showing a powerful clear range.

Guitarist Carl Grimmark is top notch rivaling greats like Yngwie Malmsteen and although there are penty of keyboards they do not overburden the music like some other bands of this genre. All the songs are catchy and memorable and they don't use any dark imagery or anything like that either. It's good to hear some positive lyrics in the metal scene. The production on this disc is top notch.

If you own anything by Narnia prior to this you need this one too as it is miles above the rest of their catalogue.

Fans of Blind Guardian, Kamelot, Dio and Malmsteen will love this.

"

" EXCELLENT POWER METAL FROM VIKINGLAND "

METAL ERCUS | North Royalton, Ohio USA | 09/14/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"THIS IS THE BEST ALBUM OF 2006 FROM VIKINGLAND!!! EXCELLENT VOICE AND SPEED !!! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO ALL FANS OF CHRISTIAN METAL !!!"

Get into this album

Brent E. Johnson | Naches, WA | 10/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Why is an album of this quality not rated about 100 times. Power metal fans out there, find this album, you will not regret it. Christian Rivel's vocals are the best he's ever done, actually finding a grittier depth on some songs that I didn't think he had. The guitar solos shred and have the most epic sound for any Narnia album. Grimmark has moved a long way away from the Malmsteen sound and seems to have found his own style. This is awesome and fans of Hammerfall, Rob Rock, even Impelletteri can find a lot to enjoy here. I have waited and hoped for an album like this from these guys as they have hinted at greatness in the past and this delivers in spades. Check out the songs Into the Game and This is My life for a great idea of what this album holds. I can't recommend this enough."

Melodic European power metal with a powerful message about C

rnorton828 | Riverbend, IL | 03/20/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Released in the spring of 2006, Enter the Gate is the fifth studio album from the Christian metal band Narnia. Although this quartet based out of Jonkoping, Sweden has been around for over twelve years, I had only heard of them recently. Enter the Gate is my introduction to Narnia's music, and I will say I am quite pleased with what I have heard, as the band's sound is a blend of several styles including power metal, melodic metal with some neo-classical influences thrown in for good measure. The lyrics are rooted in God's Word, expressing the band members' faith in Him and calling the listener into a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Lead singer Christian Rivel's voice is well-suited to Narnia's style of metal. His vocals are largely clean and smooth, yet occasionally becoming a little more gritty and aggressive. Carl Johan Grimmark shows his versatility as a guitarist, churning out drving metal power chords one moment, then offering beautiful melodic leads then next, and even adding some blues licks to a couple of songs.

Enter the Gate kicks off with "Into This Game," an up-tempo tune with driving guitars. This song also demonstrates how a metal band should use keyboards: enhancing the music without overpowering the guitars and drums. "People of the Bloodred Cross" starts off slow, but quickly picks up tempo. This song is about the persecution of Christians worldwide, with a message for both the persecuted and the persecutors:

There is danger in the air

Afraid to face reality

Where can we run and where can we hide?

Listen to the Master's voice inside

We are protected in His name

You can take our lives, but

You cannot take our faith

The album's title track points to Christ as the "open gate" by which man comes to God and is saved:

Yeah, I hope to see You there

Don't' You see I care for you

All to win for You and me

Eternal love and peace for free

The eternity to win

Jesus is the open gate

Enter in and You will see

The sins are gone, You are free

My favorite song on Enter the Gate is the closing track, "The Man from Nazareth," a lengthy epic running nearly nine minutes long (eight minutes, forty seconds to be exact), relating the life story of Jesus Christ.

He was a carpenter, a simple man

Living a simple life in Nazareth, the story tells

His mother always knew that He was meant

To serve a special purpose here, the angel had said, the story tells...

Messiah, oh Messiah

See the Son of God among

Saints and sinners, old and young

Speaking words of wisdom

Turn the other cheek, believe

And the truth shall set you free

Spoke the man from Nazareth

Jesus, King of Kings...

As His friend betrayed Him with a kiss

They tortured Him for all to see

A victim of atrocity

And they nailed Him to a cross

The earth was shaking curtains fell

As He spoke His final words:

"It is finished"

Other notable tracks include "Another World," "Show All the World," "This is My Life," "Aiming Higher" and the seven-minute ballad "Take Me Home." The CD I purchased was the standard edition released to the European market. The Japanese market release contains a bonus track, "Hymn to the North," which is included in the band's best of release "Decade of Confession."

Enter the Gate is the final Narnia album to feature both of the band's founding members as Christian Rivel left the group last spring to give him body a break. The remaining band members announced last August that German Pascual, a Brazilian-born singer who relocated to Sweden during his teens, would join the group as their new lead vocalist. They plan to release their sixth studio album, Course of a Generation, on July 24th of this year. After listening to the Narnia for the first time, I am quite impressed with the band, both as musicians and as ministers. Enter the Gate is an excellent album, and a great introduction to Narnia's music. I am certainly looking forward to their forthcoming release.

"

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