Slaughter of the Soul

Slaughter of the Soul isn’t just a landmark in melodic death metal; it’s one of the very best albums ever released by a Swedish metal band. Which is saying something, considering that, when it comes to metal, Swedes are world-class hell-raisers. At the Gates’ unconventional union of classical flourishes and bestial devastation reaches a fever pitch on the stretch between “Into the Dead Sky” and “World of Lies.” Picture an ornate cathedral; now picture it smeared in gore and guts. That’s what this music sounds like—and it’s electrifying.