At The Gates – Slaughter of the Soul (1995) is a defining album in melodic death metal, delivering a relentless mix of aggression, precision, and melody. Clocking in at just over 34 minutes, it’s a tight, no-frills assault led by Tomas Lindberg’s ferocious vocals, razor-sharp twin guitar riffs, and pummeling drumming. Tracks like Blinded by Fear, Cold, and Under a Serpent Sun balance brutality with melancholic melodies, influencing countless bands in the metalcore and Gothenburg death metal scenes. With its streamlined songwriting and intense energy, Slaughter of the Soul remains a genre classic—uncompromising, urgent, and essential.