There is definitely something to say about a release like this. Boasted and praised even before the Cd was released, the band was something almost everybody was waiting for holding the breath and crossing fingers. Featuring Erik of MORBID ANGEL/RIPPING COPRSE and the almighty Doug of SUFFOCATION fame, you couldn't expect but the best. Then at a gig I got a wondrous compilation Cd by Erik itself and when I supun it on my car-system I smiled with 87 theet. Fuck, dozens of vocals crossing in a fucking inferno of ultra brutal fucking death metal, supreme! At the time KRISIUN, ANGELCORPSE, DIABOLIC, CENTURIAN, were only the first names of a probable new wave of refreshed Death Metal. But when I actually bought the Cd something didnt exactly fit my expectations. Technically, everything is top notch, guitarwork is impressive, even on a purely scholastical level it's really neat and doubtlessly intericate and "Brutal", the drumming is frightening and the artwork very, very interesting... although still, the sheer fercoity of Brazilian bands such as the aforementioned KRISIUN or ABHORRENCE gave me the idea of being submerged by too much skill, I had the impression of an album that had a road paved with gold ahead even before being judged. Unlimited hours in studio, unlimited hours of rehearsing and sound engineering, monster skills all in all just tamed the brute force that this band could have been capable of, just like this super-perfect production ruined the last KRISIUN album. Now I will be submerged as well by critics becouse "I only like demo shit sound" and stuff (Dave Rotten's words) but that's my opinion on HATE ETERNAL. It's tragically demential that so many bands complain for ANGELCORPSE being carbon copies of MORBID ANGEL (obviously, some ignorant faggot rant), while it is so obvious Erik's influence in both this band and that. A guitarist of that skill has a clear cut, definite personality and that's it, HATE ETERNAL mostly remind me of a 1000 times faster morbid angel (I bet if "Chambers of Dis" from the F album were included in this Cd, nobody would notice). But that's not really a big problem at all, HATE ETRNAL really shred ass on stage, and have in my world conquered the throne in the new wave of Brutal Death Metal. Musically, if you don't know them yet, HATE ETERNAL is fast, fastest Death Metal with ultra-brilliant production, a drumwork that could daze any MALEVOLENT CREATION release, vocals that sound like ripped out of the throat of a maniac, and a guitarwork so intricate mo make your hands ache if you even think about replying it yourself. The Death Metal included here is definitely supreme, perfect, adamantine, yet, I'd add, "even too much" if you know what I mean... I also tried to give a bunch of thoughts about the lyrics, some are definitely SUFFOCATION-like in imprint, the kind of you have to think and reason about, made up of suggestions and cryptic hidden meanings, while the most are evolving around the topics of blasphemy (not towards a single religion though... interesting aspects), and the ascension of some deeper gods from the bowels of Earth. Visions of skies turning dark, obscene demonic creatures, spells formulated to pierce the curtain of reality perfectly fit the ferocious music, and the name HATE ETERNAL becomes clear and definitely chosen with care to symbolize the band's tight imagery. The cover artwork is also splendid, an old Flemish painting of demons, tortured souls and flames that roar with holy rage, a curious choice as many Flesmish artist of the past centuries were actually heretics and used to hide their heresy in their artworks. The only thing that doesn't convince me fully is the choice of the title. "Conquering the Throne", reading a bit superficially to the lyrics and having figured a personal perspective of this Cd as a work of "self accomplishment" by Erik's part, of having succeded in forming the ultimate Death metal abnd of his careere, I associated the things and thought the lyrics meant something like a concept about "achieving and succeding" against world's strongly tied decrees, especially the catholic ones... but then when I had a chat last year with Erik itself much of my suppositions revealed to be unfounded... I guess I'll either have to re-read completely the work of either discuss a bit more about it with him, on an interview ... (hint hint)... the one I got last year was rather confused due to my unsufficient preparation and probably due to my horrible spelled English ( I was rather incredule when he told me he was reading lot of philosophy and I asked him if he was into Nietzche while writing the lyrics and he answered "never heard".. sorry friend, I'll try to improve my spelling it next time AH!), so I probably will write a long, interesting one before the release of the new album. Let's see, one step from perfection (or one beyond... ).

 

Tracks (11): 1 - Praise of the Almighty 2 - Dogma Condemned 3 - Catacombs 4 - Nailed to Obscurity 5 - By His Own Decree 6 - The Creed of Chaotic Divinity 7 - Dethroned 8 - Sacrilege of Hate 9 - Spiritual Holocaust 10 - Darkness by Oath 11 - Saturated in Dejection