Dutch progressive trio Gates of Kiev are set to release their self-titled debut on 6 November 2026 via The Laser's Edge. Echoes and Dust reviewer Zachary Nathanson calls the record a long-awaited torch-carrier for the legacy of ELP, Atomic Rooster, Le Orme and Quatermass.

Childhood friends Tomas Mesman (organ, vocals) and Hessel Braat (drums, lyrics) formed the band; they were later joined by bassist Eszl de Vois from Amsterdam's underground psych scene. The name Gates of Kiev references "The Great Gate of Kiev" from Emerson, Lake & Palmer's Pictures at an Exhibition.

The album was recorded by Ahmad Mansour at Ijland Studio in Amsterdam, mixed and mastered by White Willow's Jacob Holm-Lupo in Norway, with cover art by Italian heavy-psych illustrator Mont Doom. Four sprawling tracks make up the forty-minute running time: "Hamlet Burns" (12 minutes), "Silhouette", "Baltazar's Feast" and "Drunkship of the Mice".

Nathanson notes that "Hamlet Burns" opens with a nocturnal mellotron-and-strings introduction before unfolding into an epic confrontation driven by Hammond organ in the vein of Jon Lord and Keith Emerson. "Silhouette" dives into a mellotron ocean reminiscent of The Moody Blues. "Baltazar's Feast" blends the proto-prog of The Nice and Le Orme with the Canterbury groove of Egg. The closing "Drunkship of the Mice" weaves droning organ, Pink Floyd "Careful with That Axe, Eugene"-style bass, Supertramp-like piano and Middle-Eastern textures recalling Aphrodite's Child.

Lead single "Hamlet Burns" is out now with an official video on the Laser CD YouTube channel. The second single "Silhouette" also has a video, shot by drummer Hessel Braat. Pre-orders are open via The Laser's Edge Bandcamp and lasercd.com.