Release Date: EU - 11/15/10, US - 02/25/11
Websites: hate-metal.com
My Rating: 4.25 out of 5
1. Genesis 2. Lux Aetema 3. Erebos
4. Quintessence of Higher Suffering
5. Trinity Moons 5. Hero Cults 6. Transsubstance
7. Hexagony 8. Wrists 9. Luminous Horizon
HATE, hailing from Poland and founded in 1990 by ATF Sinner (vocals, guitar), are definitely not a newcomer to the scene and surely but slowly are on their way toward international recognition.
Following their progress for years, and finally being able to see them live in support of Hypocrisy last spring, I was beyond excited to review the newest piece EREBOS, their seventh full length album and once again released by Listenable Records.
Now, you all know that feeling when once in a while a new album comes across your desk and you are totally blown away. Well grasshoppers, unfortunately not this time around.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t like it, but the album is missing that special something, that I just can’t put my finger on. But after several spins it sure does grow on you.
With their earlier stuff, HATE concentrated more on the art of death metal, with the overused faster-is-better approach and almost to the point of complete Deicide worship.
The all-knowing music industry describes them nowadays as a Death/Black Metal band. I have a hard time calling it black metal, because for me this genre is reserved for bands like Bathory and Venom, but what do I know. *sigh*
The bar for great polish death metal has already been set very high by pioneers like Vader and co., so it was a good move for HATE to distinguish their music with a more unique sound.
The band started to experiment by incorporating industrial and ambient elements into their songs starting with Anaclasis (2005). While this new approach yielded a good album in itself; the chorus, the riffs and small doses of melody here and there, the songs somehow all seem to run together.
The focus on Morphosis (2008) shifted to create an atmosphere, which was very apparent in the song writing and structure, and the whole thing had a blacker metal feel to it.
Now with their newest release Erebos the band once again stayed true to that formula.
You get a dose of melody in each song, while still maintaining the vibe of brutal extreme metal while being technical at the same time.
With his innovative approach, especially in the field of guitar riffs, ATF Sinner proved that he has grown as a musician and songwriter over the years. All songs are more structured and full of pretty heavy riffs, which give the album a more polished feel.
He and Destroyer (guitar) are doing a fabulous job on their respective axes. Solos, rhythm parts, or leads, you name it, the guitars are definitely setting the tone for this album. Things like in “Hexagony”, where there is a solo out of nowhere and I for sure didn’t expect it there. Tremolo picking up the ass, nice breaks in every song, and a delight to my ears was that the guitars are not that heavily down tuned.
The pinch harmonics are somewhat overused, particularly in “Luminous Horizon” but this is the standard for every genre these days. (Thank you Zakk Wylde)
More often in today’s extreme metal releases, the use and audibility of the bass guitar are an afterthought. Luckily not on this album; Mortifer clearly impacts each and every song with his sometimes subtle bust mostly full out, in your face plugging of the heavy strings on his weapon of choice.
But for me the proof is in the pudding, and without a decent drummer, all of the above doesn’t mean diddly squat. And HATE doesn’t have a decent drummer; nope they have a fucking magnificent one named Hexen.
I have seen that kid play live and I shit you not, I was blown away. His drumming on the new album clearly sets him apart from his peers. Awesome placing of double drum parts, cymbal use clearly defined in each song so it doesn’t sound like a shock when he hits them, triggers here and there and all of this combined makes each and every song sound first-rate. Particular on “Transsubstance” and “Trinity Moons” he unmistakably outdid himself, hands down.
The vocals of ATF Sinner; deep and brutal Death Metal growl’s combined with a more clear sounding voice that actually makes a lot of the lyrics audible on this album. The versatility of his vocals also shines on this release with “Lux Aeterna” being the prime example.
Even though the entire album is extremely catchy (well, for a death metal album) with memorable and somewhat groovy riffs, the industrial elements placed delicately to enhance the songs; it still seems to me that ATF Sinner and co. could have pushed the envelope a little farther.
They are already well known in their own country and the rest of Europe, and it can clearly not be an easy task to step out of the shadows of fellow countrymen Vader, Behemoth and Decapitated, but I believe they are well on their way.
Best song for me on this album is hands down “Hero Cults” followed closely by “Trinity Moons”