Once in a while a quite special musical experience is encountered that has you completely mesmerized with its wondrous awe. That is exactly how you will feel when you listen to Hate Eternal’s new album. Since “I, Monarch” the line up has had a radical overhaul since the sad passing of Jared. In comes unknown Jade Simonetto replacing Derek Roddy on drums and Alex Webster steps in on bass duties. The revitalised Hate Eternal has unleashed upon death metal the sonic equivalent of an earthquake.
The drum demolition by Jade is unbelievable (where has this guy been hiding). As “Hell Envenom” explodes from the speakers the uncompromising brutality is bewildering as the scorching riffs and lead breaks slice remorselessly. The speed that this is played at threatens to veer out of control and only the tight playing keeps the speed in check. The speed of the thunderous drumming is massive as the double kick blast and snare blast are pulverising. Anger and vehemence reign supreme as the devastating “Para-Bellum” threatens to cleave you in two such is its intensity. Rutan roars out his beastlike vocals with tremendous power but it really is the music doing the bellowing here.
The production, while clinical and resolutely modern, is brutalising in nature as the dense bass kick drumming is so fast it almost blurs into one on “Bringer Of Storms”. The song has some slower slick moments giving the listener time to breathe. Erik’s high velocity lead work is captured perfectly within the mix varying from astute melodic leads to lightning fast bolts of surgically precise mayhem. Many of the songs follow the same formula and occasionally you’ll wonder if the track has changed. Only sporadic breaks or an easing up on speed in tracks like “Funerary March” or “Thus Salvation” break up the annihilation. Webster’s speedy bass work adds even more weight to cavernous bottom end in the mix. “Fury Within” almost sounds like its taking the piss, with a catch me if you can riff at the beginning. Indeed the track stands out for its bigger variation in speed and riffs. Ending the album with atmospheric “Coronach” is very fitting and a contrast to the hyper speed start of the album.
If there is one criticism of this album it is the lack of actual memorable riffs but I guess the realisation was to produce an album that will bombard your ears with meticulously brutal death metal. By far their best album to date, Hate Eternal has turned out a colossal beast of an album which I urge you to check out soon.
http://www.hateternal.com
www.myspace.com/haeteternal
