First listen I wasn't too impressed, but every one after that it has been incredible. Reading the short story in the booklet made it even better and sitting through it while reading the lyrics is great. I have to say that the buildup to the final 3-5 minutes makes the ending of the album unforgettable. It takes some getting into to really appreciate it all. One gripe I have is that it feels like the vocals are a bit harder to make out than in previous albums. Not as clear, but by no means bad.

I find myself going back to this a lot. One riff gets stuck into my head and I decide to replay the song, which is rather an entire 40-minute album. It's risen up in my books and is one of my favorite albums of the year. The "40 minute song" concept is executed very well, managing to sound like one song with returning riffs and choruses while keeping it fresh and giving a real sense of progression especially involving the conceptual plot. Not the best album of the year but it's a fantastic one in a fantastic year.

Crimson I > Crimson III (Winter's Gate) < Crimson II

My favourite record of 2016, on par with Fate´s Warning "Theories of Flight.

Written by Vitor PR on 19.01.2017 at 14:55

Crimson I > Crimson III (Winter's Gate) < Crimson II

Nothing can beat the legendary Crimsons

I think this album is overrated. I love Insomnium، they are my favorite band. But this album is not in same level of their 2006 album which is their best.
Also there are better albums in 2016 like Belakor's vessels, Trees of Eternity, Vektor, Dark Tranquillity, Allegaeon...

9.5/10 leaning towards a 10.

The more I listen to this album, the more I like it.

Easily my favourite Insomnium album and I have recently moved it to one of my top 40 albums of all time (out of 1,800 at time of writing).

Written by nonZero on 15.11.2019 at 13:09

The more I listen to this album, the more I like it.

Easily my favourite Insomnium album and I have recently moved it to one of my top 15 albums of all time (out of 1,380 at time of writing).

I agree, its some kind a new way beggining of something what they will create and what was. Old sound is dead and lates proved this was between something.

To me, this is their best album, much better than their new one

Their best album and the first entire recording I heard by them. I was really late to the party with this band, but I'm glad I at least hopped on board here. One of the best records to come out in the past decade at least.

My first Full album listen I have given Insomnium and I've got to say I was very impressed. Really liked the overall concept and connectivity of this album filled with some beautiful atmospheric parts, killer riffs, vocals, and great instrumentation across the board. Will definitely be checking out more of Insomnium's works. The band has made a new fan out of me.

I've been listening to Insomnium's albums with a critical ear recently, and this is how I would rank them:
1. Winter's Gate - 9.5/10
2. Above The Weeping World - 8.9/10
3. Shadows Of The Dying Sun - 8.9/10
4. One For Sorrow - 8.9/10
5. Across The Dark - 8.8/10
6. Since The Day It All Came Down - 8.6/10
7. Heart Like A Grave - 8.4/10
8. In The Halls Of Awaiting - 8.0/10

Still my fav Insomnium album. Absolute masterpiece.

Probably insomnium's best. definitely the most epic sounding

So Insomnium's impressively consistent discography had led to this epic masterpiece of an album! To think there was once a time I didn't really think that highly of this, now I can't get enough of it

I can honestly say melodic death metal doesn't really get much more epic than this. It has such beautiful songwriting, wonderful and memorable melodies, and such a sheer epic and brilliant build up right from the start. The whole flippin album is fantastic but Part 3 is one of my favourite moments in Insomnium's whole discography, and also in the whole melodic death metal genre, Parts 4 and 5 ain't far behind either tbh.

Great album, definitely Insomnium's best (coming from a non fan who finds their sound bland). I really like the build up in the second part of The Golden Wolf. Bought this on cd because it's just a different experience, it's much better as one flowing song and not seven movements. Definitely a very epic melodic melodeath album.
Melody: 9
Atmosphere: 7
Dynamics: 8

Yeah this is great, and just like "Across the Dark" it's not overly long and bloated. Had been a few years since I've listened to it and most of the melodies were still fresh in my mind. Probably their best album overall.

I did not wanted to rate it when it was released coz i was not sure whether my liking towards the experiment they have done in this album. Niw after couple of albums I feel like i should at least rate this classic now than be late coz i am listening to Anno 1696 now..

Part 1 is a chore to get through. It's rather bland. Part 2 is where it gets good and then stays good till the end. Plenty of riffs and melodies with true staying power on this thing. Even though Dan Swanö mixed and mastered this, I don't really see much point in comparisons to the Crimson albums. Winter's Gate sounds almost nothing like those, IMO.

Yeah the only similarity is the runtime.