AT THE GATES are recognised as pioneers of the Gothenburg NWoSDT (New Wave of Swedish Death Metal) sound. A very aggressive technical Thrash act in the vein of America's finest, but with added twists and a touch of the avant-garde, this quintet, was initially known as GROTESQUE. This antecedent outfit had been forged by ex-ORAL guitarist Alf Svensson, billed under a stage name of 'The Haunting'. Vocals would be handled by 'Goatspell' (a.k.a. Tomas Lindberg) with 'Necrolord' (a.k.a. 'Bullen' Kristian Wahlin) on secondary guitars. The group's original rhythm section comprised bassist Nuctemeron with the SORHIN and ARCKANUM credited Shamaatae (Johan S. Lager) on drums. Subsequently 'Offensor' (a.k.a. Tomas Eriksson) manned the drums. Recordings issued under the GROTESQUE banner included the demos 'Ripped From The Cross', a three song rehearsal session in 1988, and 'The Black Gate Is Closed' laid down on April 5th 1989. The Dolores label issued the 'Incantations' mini-album in 1990, pressed in both lilac and black vinyl editions. However, that same year the band folded.

In February 1990 Lindberg, joining forces with guitarist Bjorn Mankner and identical twins Anders Björler and Jonas Björler, on guitar and bass respectively, forged INFESTATION. A two song rehearsal demo, 'When Sanity Ends', was recorded at FÃ¥geln studio and issued in August but INFESTATION collapsed shortly thereafter. Lindberg and the two brothers then hooked up with Alf Svensson plus drummer Adrian Erlandsson, and duly created AT THE GATES.

As AT THE GATES the first product to emerge was the mini-album 'Gardens Of Grief' on Dolores Records in May 1991. The 'At The Gates' anthem was poignantly dedicated to late MAYHEM singer Dead (Per Yngve Ohlin), who had committed suicide that April. Svensson's involvement with AT THE GATES would be brief, as the man soon departed later, going on to form the extraordinary OXIPLEGATZ and releasing the 'Fairy Tales (Selatyriaf)' album in 1994 and 'Worlds And Worlds' in 1996.

'The Red In The Sky Is Ours', delivered in July 1992 and despite being an ultra-heavyweight affair, featured guest violinist Jesper Jarold. Presenting their work in the live scenario, AT THE GATES toured Europe in 1992 opening for MY DYING BRIDE. Their third album, 1993's 'With Fear I Kiss The Burning Darkness', was produced by noted Death Metal desk man Tomas Skogsberg and again received solid reviews. DISMEMBER's Matti Kärki notably provided some additional growls for good measure. AT THE GATES appeared at the MTV/Peaceville show at Nottingham's Rock City alongside ANATHEMA and MY DYING BRIDE before once more touring Europe with ANATHEMA and opening act CRADLE OF FILTH in January 1994.

'Terminal Spirit Disease' was produced by Fredrik Nordström and includes a selection of live tracks culled from the previous three releases alongside new studio material, the first to feature the new guitarist Martin Larsson, embellished by cellist Peter Andersson and violinist Ylva WÃ¥hlstedt. To back up its release the band once more hit the road with ANATHEMA and MY DYING BRIDE. The band toured Europe in early 1995 with SEANCE. That same year a short lived but significant AT THE GATES connected project emerged entitled TERROR, this being a union of the AT THE GATES triumvirate of guitarist Anders Björler, bass player Jonas Björler and drummer Adrian Erlandsson with the notorious DISSECTION frontman Jon Nödtveidt. TERROR issued a solitary demo prior to collapse.

AT THE GATES switched labels moving to Earache Records, First product of this liaison was the November 1995 'Slaughter Of The Soul' album, which featured a version of Australian act SLAUGHTERLORD's track 'Legion' as a Japanese bonus track. KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque guested on the track 'Cold'. Clocking in at an all too brief 34 minutes, the Fredrik Nordström produced 'Slaughter Of The Soul' was nonetheless startlingly close to Death Metal perfection. AT THE GATES also contributed their rendition of 'Captor Of Sin' to the SLAYER tribute album 'Slatanic Slaughter'.

Despite 'Slaughter Of The Soul' proving to be their highest selling effort, AT THE GATES met on July 27th 1996 and decided to split. Adrian Elandsson immediately fired up THE HAUNTED, rehearsing the very next day with former ORCHRISTE, SÉANCE and SATANIC SLAUGHTER guitarist Patrik Jensen. Both Anders Björler and Jonas Björler soon joined this formation. Adrian Erlandsson founded H.E.A.L. and later joined premier British Black Metal act CRADLE OF FILTH in 1999.

Lindberg became vocalist for GREAT DECEIVER releasing the 2000 album 'Jet Black Art'. Lindberg joined DISINCARNATE in 1999, the band assembled by former DEATH, TESTAMENT and CANCER guitarist JAMES MURPHY. By mid 2000 Lindberg was fronting LOCKUP, the side project of NAPALM DEATH men Shane Embury and Jesse Pintado with DIMMU BORGIR drummer Nick Barker.

'Slaughter Of The Soul' would be re-issued in 2002 adding a glut of extra tracks including the SLAUGHTERLORD 'Legion' Japanese bonus cut, two working demos, an outtake from the album sessions 'The Dying', the cover of SLAYER's 'Captor Of Sin' as well as a rendition of NO SECURITY's 'Bister Verklighet'.

A 2004 tribute album, 'Slaughterous Souls - A Tribute to At The Gates' released in September through Drowned Scream Records, comprised such artists paying homage as TAETRE, GODHATE, M?RK GRYNING, MOONSKIN, DARKNESS BY OATH, SOUL DEMISE, ETERNAL OATH, ETERNAL GRAY, ILLDISPOSED, ENTER CHAOS, DETONATION, MISANTHROPE, PAGANIZER and VILE. In addition IN AETERNUM weighed in with a cover of 'Blood Run From The Altar', originally by GROTESQUE.

Earache Records issued a picture disc vinyl edition of 'Slaughter Of The Soul' in October 2006, this re-issue was restricted to 1,500 copies.

A reformed AT THE GATES, featuring vocalist Tomas Lindberg, guitarists Martin Larsson and Anders Björler, bassist Jonas Björler and Adrian Erlandsson on drums, toured North America in July 2008 alongside MUNICIPAL WASTE, DARKEST HOUR and TOXIC HOLOCAUST, wrapping up on 27th July at the Henry Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, California. The band performed at the 'Bloodstock Open Air' festival on 17th August at Catton Hall in Derbyshire, England. AT THE GATES tapped TYRANT, OBSCURITY and GRAND MAGUS to support them on their September Swedish dates.