The Gates of Slumber

The Gates of Slumber
Background information
Origin	Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
Genres	Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Traditional Doom
Years active	1998 - 2013, 2019 - Present
Labels	Rise Above Records, Scion A/V, I Hate Records, Profound Lore
Associated acts	Apostle of Solitude, Devil To Pay, Wretch, Boulder, Midnight, Sourvein
Website	Facebook

The Gates of Slumber are a doom metal band from Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. They were active from 1998 - 2013 with five studio albums. Their sound is in the vein of classic traditional doom metal with lyrical themes of mythology and fantasy. The band's name was taken from the song "Gates of Slumber" by Cianide.

History

Formation and Studio Releases

The Gates of Slumber was formed by Karl Simon in 1998, but didn't have an official lineup until 2000, when bassist/drummer Jamie Walters (Boulder, Midnight) joined the band. This lineup would compose the Blood Encrusted Deth Axe demo in 2000. Personality and commitment clashes led to Brad Elliott and Chris "The Fist" Gordon joining the next year. This lineup would record a demo in 2002 entitled Sabbath Witch but was also short-lived with Chuck Brown replacing Gordon later that year.

In 2003, Jason McCash would replace Brad Elliott as bassist and remain with the band until the band's demise. The lineup of Simon, McCash and Brown would record and release their debut releases. These releases would be their first album ...The Awakening in 2004 and Like a Plague Upon The Land, also in 2004. This lineup lasted until 2005, when conflicts between Brown and the rest of the band led to his departure. 

After being briefly replaced by a returning Chris Gordon (And recording drums for the band's second album Suffer No Guilt), the position of drummer fell to "Iron" Bob Fouts. This lineup lasted for five years between 2005 and 2010; the longest-lasting lineup in the history of the band. This lineup would release two acclaimed albums in 2008's Conqueror and 2009's Hymns of Blood and Thunder with several tours to follow.

In 2010, Fouts left amicably and was replaced by J "Cool" Clyde Paradis. A tour of Europe was planned, including a performance at the Roadburn Festival, but was ultimately cancelled by the eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano (Though the band would make it to Roadburn in 2011.).

The Gates of Slumbers - (Live at Roadburn 2011) - (In Memorian - Jason McCash)

In 2011, The lineup of Simon, McCash and Paradis would release what turned out to be the band's final studio full-length The Wretch. Bob Fouts would return to the band in 2012 and remain. The band's final EP, Stormcrow, would be released in 2013.

Dissolution

In 2013, two tours planned for The Gates of Slumber were inexplicably canceled. A European tour planned for the summer of 2013 was cancelled with this official statement:

“	With a very heavy heart and the sincerest of apologies The Gates of Slumber will have to cancel their European tour that is coming up due to a member having to go into Rehab to deal with several addiction issues. It’s an issue that has to be addressed and cannot be put off any further. We hope to be able to reschedule this tour at a later date. We are extremely sorry to all of our European fans, to all the promoters, tour mates and most importantly to our booking agent.	”
	— The Gates of Slumber, Official Statement

A tour in November with Church of Misery (Whose tour coincedentally got delayed due to VISA issues) was also planned, but around September 2013 Jason McCash quit the band. Karl Simon chose to disband the group in response, with the following statement:

“	Some of you may have noticed that Jason quit The Gates of Slumber this past week. So, yeah. it's done. I always said I'd never go on doing TGoS without Jason, I don't think anyone ever really believed it, but yeah, it's done. I did start the band, but McCash has been my best friend for the last 20 years, the last 10 in this damn band. He wrote amazing music and was a killer person to be around on the road. Somewhere about 3 years back shit started to change, and it's ended with him quitting. I'm sure he needs the break, probably from me... I'm starting to *kind of* get the hint. So yeah. It's done.	”
	— Karl Simon, Hellride Forums

The band's final show was a headlining spot at Days of The Doomed Festival in Cudahy, Wisconsin on June 22, 2013.

THE GATES OF SLUMBER - DOTD III - 2013

Aftermath

Karl Simon would go on to form the band Wretch and play shows sporadically around Indiana. Some of the material written for Wretch dates back to Simon's time in The Gates of Slumber.

Jason McCash had material written for The Gates of Slumber with the intents of releasing under a different name. Tragically, McCash would pass away at the age of 37 on April 5th, 2014. Karl Simon made the following statement afterwards:

“	My best friend died last night. There will be no reunion—no more of TGoS. It’s dead beyond dead, and I’ve lost a brother. Please be respectful or silent. It’s a small world and I’m still alive. Remember that shit.	”
	— Karl Simon, The Gates of Slumber Facebook

J. Clyde Paradis would pass away two years later on 13 August 2016, aged 46.

Reunion

On 30 April 2019 it would be announced that The Gates of Slumber would reunite for a performance at the 2020 edition of Hell Over Hammaburg in Hamburg, Germany. Early drummer Chuck Brown would re-join the band for this performance while Steve Janiak (Apostle of Solitude, Devil To Pay) would fill in the bass role. It is currently unknown if this is a one-time performance or if the band is fully re-formed. Surviving drummer Bob Fouts would state that he was not contacted in any way for the reunion but would wish Karl success in regards to the future shows. In an interview for The Obelisk, Simon explained that the reunion stemmed from an offer by Hell Over Hammaburg despite in a rough personal time for Simon. Simon had been jamming with former drummer Chuck Brown and it led to Janiak filling the bass role, being described as a more chill experience. The band elaborates that their set is largely going to comprise of material from ...The Awakening and set to span 80 minutes, with possibly more reunion shows in the future. A full tour surrounding this reunion performance would take place through that March in Europe and would be finished before the CO-VID19 Pandemic would take shape. The band noted they were able to get back in the States in time before airports were locking down.

"Iron" Bob Fouts would pass away on 28 April 2020, aged 45. Karl Simon would state the following about Bob: “RIP Bob. I don’t have the words really. He’d seemed like he was on the way back. I hope he’s at peace.”

The Gates of Slumber would establish a Patreon and in 2023 begin work on a sixth studio album.

Members

Current Lineup

• Karl Simon - Guitar, Vocals (1998-2013, 2019 - Present
• Chuck Brown - Drums (2003-2004, 2019 - Present)
• Steve Janiak - Bass (2019 - Present)

Past Members

• Jamie Walters aka Dr. Phibes - Drums, Bass (2000-2002)
• Brad Elliot - Bass (2002-2003)
• Chris Gordon - Drums (2002-2003)
• Jason McCash - Bass, Vocals (2003-2013) (Died 2014)
• Bob Fouts - Drums (2005-2010, 2012-2013) (Died 2020)
• J. Clyde Paradis - Drums (2010-2012) (Died 2016)

Discography

Albums

• ...The Awakening (2004)
• Suffer No Guilt (2006)
• Conqueror (2008)
• Hymns of Blood and Thunder (2009)
• The Wretch (2011)
• TBA (TBA)

Extended Plays

• Like a Plague Upon the Land (2004)
• God Wills It (2005)
• The Ice Worm's Lair (2008)
• The Hyena Sessions (2010)
• Stormcrow (2013)

Splits

• From the Ultima Thule (2007)
  with Spiritus Mortis
• The Gates of Slumber / The Dream Is Dead (2007)
  with The Dream is Dead
• The Gates of Slumber / Crowning Glory (2007)
  with Crowning Glory

Singles

• The Jury (2011 Version) (Single) (2011)

Live Albums

• Live in Tempe Arizona (2020)

Demos

• Blood Encrusted Deth Axe (2000)
• Sabbath Witch (2002)
• The Cloaked Figure (2004)

Compilations

• God Wills It From the Ultima Thule (2006)
• Villain, Villain (2007)
• Chronicles of True Doom (2009)
• The Hyena Sessions (2010)

External Links

Social Media/Websites

• Official Facebook
• Official Webpage For TGoS and Wretch
• Patreon
• BigCartel

Interviews

• 2009 Interview for The Obelisk
• 2013 Interview for Crowns N' Bones
• 2011 Interview for Burning Ambulance
• 2006 Interview for Metal Chaos