AT THE GATES Seeking Footage For Upcoming DVD

Reactivated Swedish extreme metal pioneers AT THE GATES are currently compiling footage for an upcoming DVD. The band says, "What we need now is recordings from master source preferably 1990-1996.

"Regarding these old recordings: It could be crappy VHS/Video8/SVHS etc. — just as long as it's your recording! As we can't bootleg an existing bootleg without permission, we need the original source. So, spread the word that we are interested in getting in touch with people who sit on original material. It could be live shows, interviews (radio, fanzines etc...). Also footage from inside/outside venues is welcome. You will get credit, of course. If you have material in your possession that is yours, please contact us."

Last summer, Luxi Lahtinen of Metal-Rules.com conducted an interview with AT THE GATES guitarist Anders Björler. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow below.

Metal-Rules.com: There was years of talk about the AT THE GATES reunion shows before they actually happened. Did you, at least at some point, start losing faith whether you could ever get these reunion shows up and running, the more time passed by?

Anders: Well, the biggest reason we didn't play was that Adrian [Erlandsson, drums] was very busy with CRADLE OF FILTH. He couldn't get any time off. He wasn't even allowed to play in another band, and that was the major problem. I think we started talking about a reunion in 2002 or 2003, so it's been in talks for a few years. Last year I called everyone up and asked if maybe they would like to do a summer thing next year, and everybody was pretty positive. That was a big thing, about planning ahead a year in advance, so that all the guys could get ready to do it.

Metal-Rules.com: Was the main idea behind these reunion shows basically the fact that while you were still around back in the day, there were so many people out there that never got to see any of your shows, so you kind of wanted to warm up this idea that "let's give them at least this one opportunity to come to your shows, and enjoy them while you are doing them?"

Anders: Of course it's for the fans, but it's also for ourselves, making a final group of shows. When I left the band, it was so sudden, so we couldn't do a last show, so this seems like a worthy ending, somehow.

Metal-Rules.com: Have you received lots of mail from some people in record companies, showing their interest toward an idea about at least one more AT THE GATES album?

Anders: Not really an AT THE GATES album, but we've received some interest for live recordings. We'll see what happens, we're not in a big hurry to release anything, really. But no new studio album. It seems pointless after 12 years. I think people might think they want it, but when they actually hear it I don't think they'll want it anymore. That's our feeling about it, at least. "Slaughter of the Soul" was a very good album to end with, as it would be very hard to top.

AT THE GATES were the featured guests on the July 27 edition of Indie 103.1 FM's specialty metal program "Chaos with Full Metal Jackie". Listen to the interview at this location.

AT THE GATES wrapped up its North American tour on July 27 at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, California. Also appearing on the bill were DARKEST HOUR, MUNICIPAL WASTE and TOXIC HOLOCAUST.

AT THE GATES 2008 reunion lineup:

Adrian Erlandsson - Drums
Martin Larsson - Guitar
Anders Björler - Guitar
Tomas Lindberg - Vocals
Jonas Björler - Bass

Fan-filmed video footage of AT THE GATES's July 4, 2008 performance at the Ruisrock festival in Ruissalo, Turku, Finland can be viewed below (clip uploaded by YouTube user "MetalFinland2008").