Guardians Gate – Burn The Lies

2026, 12 songs, 52 min 36 sec

With “The Green Mile”, Guardians Gate delivered a cracking debut, and when they scaled back their live activities at the end of last year to hole up in the studio and focus entirely on work on their follow-up album, it was clear that their now sizeable fanbase had a special piece of music to be looking forward to.

No sooner said than done, and with “Burn The Lies”, the talented Hessians are now treating fans to a real gem, which is likely to see their fanbase grow even further. Things seem to tick differently at Guardians Gate, as one cannot shake the feeling that new song material is being created here with indescribable energy and pure ease, brimming with inventiveness and marking a consistent evolution. Even the opener “Wars Never Change” begins with technical finesse and power, and Guardians Gate make it very clear right from the start where the journey is headed. They have clearly developed further in their songwriting, acting much more agile and self-assured, and “Wars Never Change” is definitely a song with great recognition value. Next up is the extremely catchy “Falling Asleep”, which sticks in your head immediately and is an absolute must-play at live shows. The album continues in a similarly melodic and powerful vein with the title track “Burn The Lies”, where the playful guitar textures in particular create a profound atmosphere. With “Instructions To Self-Destruction”, the band from Hesse have created a thoroughly uncompromising track that charges straight ahead with a hefty dose of heaviness and suits them down to the ground. The track that follows immediately, “Kreuzung Des Lebens” – a German-language song that stands out in a positive way – is also musically compelling from start to finish.

My personal favourite, “Caledonians Call”, creates a pleasantly eerie atmosphere and takes the listener on a journey through Celtic mythology and spirituality. An absolute gem that leaves far more than just a lasting impression. Guardians Gate consistently manage to create moments of surprise with great variety and maintain a high level of suspense. This runs like a common thread throughout the entire album, and the 12 tracks, with a total running time of 52 minutes, guarantee a listening experience in a class of its own. Next up are the emotive “Trapped In The Haze” and the brilliant “Only In The Darkness” – tracks that once again demonstrate that Guardians Gate have evolved in every respect. From the rhythm section of bassist John and drummer Marius, through the two six-stringers played by Stephan and Julian, right up to singer Flo, there’s really nothing but positive things to say here, and the band’s increased live presence in recent years has certainly played its part in this.

“Burn The Lies” has turned out to be a really well-rounded track and still sounds fresh and unspoilt even after multiple run-throughs. I can only urge every fan of the band – and anyone who wants to become one – to get hold of this brilliant piece of music. Despite all the praise, this likeable band’s potential is far from exhausted, and we can look forward to seeing what musical treats Guardians Gate will serve up in the coming years.

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