Following the tragic passing of At the Gates’ Tomas Lindberg last summer, the group have now outlined the details behind their final album recorded during the iconic vocalist’s lifetime. Dubbed The Ghost of a Future Dead, the melodeath masters are previewing the LP in advance with the ripping first single, “The Fever Mask.”
The new song arrives in a music video full of archival film and photos of Lindberg and the rest of At the Gates throughout their career, from promo photo shoots to backstage hangs to moments of connection with friends and family. Sonically, the song rocks with the patented Gothenburg sound, the group pummeling full-speed drums against dramatically galloped riffs. Tompa’s familiar howl foments over the “paranoia of dying cultures” and a societal emptiness.
As previously reported, Lindberg passed away last September following his battle with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, a rare form of oral cancer he’d been diagnosed with in 2023. The band had previously explained that his vocals were recorded shortly before undergoing major mouth surgery. He’d been placed into a specialized longterm care ward last spring following complications that arose after his surgery. During this time, the band discussed with Lindberg how to release their next LP.
“As you all know, Tomas Lindberg passed away last year due to complications from his cancer treatment. Over the past few years, we worked closely with Tomas, discussing and refining every detail to ensure nothing was left to chance,” the surviving members of At the Gates wrote in a group statement. “In accordance with Tomas’ wishes – including the album title, sound mix, track order, artwork, and overall presentation – The Ghost of a Future Dead remains true to form. It combines the ferocious energy and hard-hitting powerful melodies that is the essence of At the Gates. This album is Tomas’ legacy.”
The Ghost of a Future Dead follows 2021’s The Nightmare of Being. Its 12 tracks were recorded and mixed by Jens Bogren at Örebro, Sweden’s Fascination Street Studios. On top of it being their last album with Lindberg before his death, the group’s next effort is likewise their first with founding lead guitarist Björler rejoined the band in 2022.
The Ghost of a Future Dead is out April 24th via Century Media. That’d be the cover art and tracklisting info is down below.
Pre-orders for an exclusive vinyl edition on “Transluscent Black Ice” (limited to 500 copies), are up in Revolver‘s shop, where you can likewise pick up alternate vinyl colorways and CD copies of The Ghost of a Future Dead .
The Ghost of a Future Dead tracklisting:
The Fever Mask
The Dissonant Void
Det Oerhörda
A Ritual of Waste
In Dark Distortion
Of Interstellar Death
Tomb of Heaven
Parasitical Hive
The Unfathomable
The Phantom Gospel
Förgängligheten
Black Hole Emission