Anubis Gate is a Danish progressiv… Read Full Bio ↴Aalborg, Denmark (2003 - present)
Anubis Gate is a Danish progressive metal band. Stylistically Anubis Gate is conglomeration of the classic 80's heavy metal, a more epic 90's ambience and a dark progressiveness of our days. You could describe it as metal with beautiful soundscapes, cool riffing, and a clear and powerful vocal performance.
Musical inspirations for Anubis Gate are acts such as Queensryche, Iron Maiden, Lord Bane, Tad Morose, Iced Earth, Crimson Glory, Fates Warning, King Crimson, Genesis & Savatage, although it's important to stress that the band really doesn't sound like anyone else.
Line-up
Henrik Fevre ~ Bass, Vocals
Kim Olesen ~ Guitar, Keyboards
Morten Sørensen ~ Drums
Michael Bodin ~ Guitars
Former members
Torben Askholm ~ Vocals
Jacob Hansen ~ Vocals
Jesper M. Jensen ~ Guitar
Biography
The Old Days.
In 1984 Jesper M. Jensen (bass) and Henrik Fevre (guitar, vocals) formed their first metal outfit together called V-axe. The original drummer was soon replaced by Per M. Jensen (drums, vocals), who already played with Henrik in the guitar/drums duo Black Mercyful.
The name soon changed to Graff Spee and some local gigs were played, mostly original material like "Violent killer", "Death axe" and "Realm of impossibility". Graff Spee got some attention in local papers and in the Danish HM magazine Hot Rockin', first and foremost for being the youngest HM band around (average age was 12). Some demos were made and sent around, but naturally the band was way too young and inexperienced to make records, although this was the main target from the very beginning. In 1986 the band split both as a band and as friends, mainly because Henrik wanted to pursue other musical influences far from heavy.
Jesper and Per stuck together and in 1987 they started up the local heavy metal band Extreme Feedback, which included both Morten Sørensen (vocals - later on he began playing the drums) and Kim Olesen (guitar).
In 1989 Per and Jesper then went onto thrash metal band Invocator, with whom they released a couple of demo's as well as the worldwide well-received album "Excursion Demise", year 1991.
After having been in Invocator till the early nineties, Jesper returned to Aalborg in Northern Denmark, where joined the rap-metal act Geronimo, in which also Morten played. Geronimo released a mini CD in 1995. And the band split up.
Anubis Gate comes to life.
Morten and Jesper kept the contact, and began to write new matrial. In the melodic heavy metal style, with proggy/power metal sound to it. They recorded a demo, and needed extra members for a band.
An appropriate singer was found in Torben Askholm, who had been a part of the Danish metal scene for many years, first with the thrash metal act Prophets Of Doom (released an album in 1989) and then with the progressive metal band Northern Empire (two demos in the early nineties).
When the band had enough material for a full length album, they decided to visit Hansen Studio's in Denmark, under the guidance of producer extra-ordinaire Jacob Hansen (actually ex-band mate of Jesper's from the Invocator days), who among others have produced such well respected bands as Ill disposed, Ancient, Falconer, Mercenary, Wuthering Heights and Manticora.
The production is clean and upfront, and all instruments are nicely separated in the mix. It is a real heavy metal production, fitting for a release like this. On the debut album, "Purification", Kim Olesen guests on guitars and keyboards, while Henrik Fevre is responsible for the harmony vocals. The production took place in the summer of 2003, and the last parts (harmony vocals, extra guitars, better mix …) were added in December '03.
Lyrically, "Purification", is a loosely based concept album about fighting inner demons, and cleansing on a psychological level. This goes very well together with the band name, as Anubis was the jackal-God in the ancient Egyptian mythology that lead the misguided dead souls through the Underworld and into the kingdom of Osiris.
In the fall of 2003 Anubis Gate hooked up with Danish based Intromental Management for the promotion of their album, and by early November a deal was signed with the Spanish/German label Locomotive Music for the European and North American release of "Purification", which happened in late spring 2004.
After an incredible interest from the media and fantastic fan response, Anubis Gate began writing material for the follow-up to "Purification", incorporating both Kim (guitars) and Henrik (bass/backing vocals) as permanent members of the band.
The new material is more varied, in tempo and overall. It is a natural step, still Anubis Gate, but more interesting for the listener, and shows more skills.
Once again Anubis Gate chose Jacob Hansen as the producer for the album. The studio got booked for the winter of 2004/2005, and this time for a longer period, giving the new songs what they really deserve.
"A Perfect Forever" - the 2nd album, was released on September 19th 2005, once again with a grandiose production from Jacob Hansen. With an even more mature and ultimate melodic songwriting, an album set to light a massive fire in the hearts of all metal fans.
In the fall of 2005 Torben suffered from a temporary loss of his voice, which forced him to drop out of the planned gigs, at which Henrik took over vocal duties, while playing the bass as well.
Around the end of 2005 a choice was made to find a new vocalist, a job that proved quite easy considering that producer and longtime friend Jacob Hansen volonteered right away to make the band a demo with him singing on it. Shortly after Jacob was confirmed as the new singer of Anubis Gate.
Snowbound
Anubis Gate Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A blizzard would rage for one day
While strong men fought the uneven battle
The wind poured out its pain and dismay)
Wait for the anger to subdue itself
You don't have the strength to change it
Like tossed from above without warning
A voice was heard "You're gonna fly! Guess you can say your last prayer. But I won't let you go. You're gonna fly. Fooled by the undertow."
Snowbound
Boy embraced to death by cold hands of winter
Never had a chance to say goodbye
(As quickly as it had unfolded
The blizzard deceased after taking its toll)
Damage was done when they came to aid
He was cold as the snow he lay upon
As he fought to survive
His struggles carved in snow
Almost angelic.
"You're gonna fly! Snowbound and dressed all in white. But your spirit will rise. You're gonna fly. Embark on excursion demise."
Snowbound
Boy embraced to death by cold hands of heaven
Never had a chance to say goodbye
Never had a chance to say goodbye
Snowbound
Boy embraced to death by the cold hands of heaven
Never had a chance to say goodbye
Snowbound
Boy embraced to death by the cold hands of heaven
Never had a chance to say goodbye
Say goodbye
Left a sea of questions
Left a crowd in grief
The lyrics of Anubis Gate's "Snowbound" talk about a boy who gets trapped by a blizzard and succumbs to death due to the harsh conditions. The song talks about how helpless we are in the face of nature's fury and how easily it can take our lives. The opening lines describe the intensity of the blizzard with strong men fighting an uneven battle against the wind. The song says that sometimes all we can do is wait for the anger to subdue because we don't have the strength to change it, and in this case, the blizzard takes its toll on the boy.
The lyrics then describe how the boy was stunned by a fistful of ice, and a voice was heard that said he was going to fly, fooled by the undertow. The chorus talks about how the boy was embraced by the cold hands of heaven and never had a chance to say goodbye. The song says that the damage was already done when they came to his aid, and he was as cold as the snow he lay upon. The boy's struggles were carved in the snow, which was described as almost angelic. The closing lines talk about how the boy's death left a sea of questions and a crowd in grief.
Overall, the song is a tragic account of how vulnerable we are in the face of nature's fury. The lyrics show how easily it can take our lives away and how powerless we are to stop it.
Line by Line Meaning
Wait for the anger to subdue itself
Calm down and wait for things to become peaceful
You don't have the strength to change it
You are powerless to alter the situation
Like tossed from above without warning
Thrown into an unexpected situation
A fistful of ice swiftly stunned him
He was quickly struck by a blast of cold air
Snowbound
Trapped in the snow
Boy embraced to death by cold hands of winter
The coldness of winter caused the boy's death
Never had a chance to say goodbye
He was taken too soon
Damage was done when they came to aid
The harm was already done when rescuers arrived
He was cold as the snow he lay upon
His body was lifeless and frozen
As he fought to survive
The boy struggled to overcome the harsh conditions
His struggles carved in snow
His struggles were recorded in the snow
Almost angelic
The boy's stillness resembled an angel
Left a sea of questions
The boy's death left many unanswered questions
Left a crowd in grief
His passing caused great sadness to many people
Contributed by Samantha N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.