After a 29-year gap, Swedish death metal band Gates Of Ishtar will be bringing out their studio comeback, and only fourth album, Murder The Light, on 21st January 2027 via The Circle Music.
“After nearly three decades, Gates Of Ishtar return,” said the band, somewhat nonchalantly. “This January we will release our first album since 1998. Not a look back, but a continuation built on the same foundation and spirit that defined us then and still drives us now. The new material stays true to the sound and identity that shaped our earlier work. While reflecting the years that have passed and the experiences gained along the way, now nearly thirty years later, the fire still burns even brighter and more intensely than ever. More details soon…”
The Circle Music added: “Long before melodic death metal became a global phenomenon, Gates Of Ishtar helped define the Swedish sound with their masterful balance of razor-edged riffs, melancholic melodies, and timeless songwriting. Their influence can still be heard throughout the genre, even if history has never granted them the recognition they so richly deserve.
“Murder The Light does not seek to recreate the past. It expands upon it with confidence, maturity, and the same creative fire that made the band’s early recordings so enduring. Every composition reflects musicians who have remained true to their identity while allowing nearly three decades of life and experience to shape their art. This is the return of a band with something meaningful to say.”
Founded in Luleå, Sweden, Gates Of Ishtar came back into action towards the end of 2023 for a special live gig. They returned to their old creative groove, performing at festivals, which in turn resulted in the album Murder The Light.
The recording process started at the Humbucker Studios in Hagsätra, Sweden, in May 2026, where the band recorded the drum and bass parts. Guitars and vocal parts were recorded in the next two months, June and July, at Fallen Studios. The producer, Robert Pehrson, mixed and mastered the album at Humbucker Studios in August 2026.
The album will be available in assorted physical formats alongside related merchandise.
Read more about Gates Of Ishtar on RAMzine.
