Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
I was surprised!, June 28, 2005
Erik Rutan has outdone himself again. This is by far the best HATE ETERNAL album. The riffs are much more memorable than the lst two and this album seems to have more direction which lacked in the last two releases. The album has violent riffs and melodies through out the album with technical but good guitar solos (Erik's solos contrast the music in a great way). I hate to admit it but the addition of Randy on Bass/Vocals is a much-needed improvement in the band. The songs are all heavy and fast (as you would already predict). The only thing that will really surprise you is how quickly the songwriting has matured from previous albums. Erik's vocals only get better on each release. I recommend this release over the new NILE or KRISIUN. The album will keep your attention and was worth the price. Solid effort all around.
|
|
|
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Feverishly heavy, January 26, 2006
Since so much death metal was released in 2005, it's would only be natural if one band's album sounded like another's. Hate Eternal have all of the characteristics of a trademark death metal band--a monstrous sound with hefty, spiteful riffing and an insane drummer who turns out one deft blast beat after another. (His bass drum must be in splinters by the time this album is over!) But this Floridian group aren't a complete rip off of every other band, because a) the vocals are growled, so the lyrics are somewhat discernable and b) "I, Monarch" has a somewhat more groove-oriented sound than the rest of the death metal albums that were released last year. But just because this record is groovier doesn't mean it is at all commercially accessible or melodic. On the contrary, "I, Monarch" strikes a balance which is about as heavy and fast as you can get. It is brutal and uncompromising; as heavy as a sledgehammer and as tight as a coffin lid. All of the songs on here are kind of the same, but, when they make for such an exhilarating listen, that's a small flaw. "Two Demons" opens the album with thunderous drumming and blowtorch riffs. This song leads into track two, "Behold Judas," which puts searing guitars on top of a cascading, lightning fast blast beat. "Victorious Reign" has brain scrambling drum work and jackhammer riffs, and the title track is maybe the catchiest song on here, with rhythmically pounding guitars. The last two highlights are the ultra-evil sounding "Sons of Darkness," and the scorching instrumental, "Faceless One," which closes out the album. All in all, this is a solid effort all around, and if you're a death metalhead and enjoy bands like Morbid Angel and Cryptopsy, you'll definitely want to add this to your collection.
|
|
|
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent album (4.5 stars), September 17, 2005
With "I, Monarch" Hate Eternal has managed to release an impressive album that will satiate even the most rabid metal fan's appetite. The advertisement sticker placed on the cover states that "'I, Monarch' is the next crucial album in extreme metal." The album is brutal indeed, and manages to live up to the lofty expectations of the sticker, by employing the following:
First, "I, Monarch" manages to be extremely brutal and aggressive without sacrificing quality musicanship that one would expect from a band as technically proficient as Hate Eternal. "I, Monarch" showcases the band's affinity for technicality and brutal stylings, while managing to display an amazing degree of creative song writing. For example, on the title track, blast beats are used as the primary rhythm core of the song which consists of a guitar riff where one would not normally expect to hear such fast drumming. This type of contrast is not limited to just this one song, rather, much of the album is produced this way, creating a style of death metal that is uniquely their own.
Second, as mentioned earlier, "I, Monarch" does not lack brutality. The album is EXTREMELY heavy! Blast beats make up the primary drumming core of the album, and Erik Rutan's death vocals are INTENSE! Rutan is one of those rare vocalists who posesses a voice that is brutal without sounding forced (i.e., he does not appear to be 'trying too hard'), rather the sheer brutality of his vocals sound natural and somewhat effortless. After listening to this album it will be obvious to any listener who is familiar with extreme music, that Hate Eternal stands alongside Behemoth, Nile, Suffocation, and Cryptopsy as death metal's elite. In and of itself, this is an enormous accomplishment for any extreme metal band.
Third, the production of the album is very good. Much to my surpise, Rutan is also the producer of the album. Production is such a key component of any album, and it is an aspect that I pay close attention to when listening to any album. Though not the best produced album, it is very well done. All of the instruments are easily discernable.
Fourth, (and I may be wrong in my understanding of the lyrics) but some of the lyrics appear to have a positive spiritual influence to them (i.e., Christianity). However, I may have completely misunderstood subtle meaning behind the lyrics, and they very well could be paganistic in nature (I believe Rutan was once in Morbid Angel). Despite this, one song in particular appeared (to me) to be influenced by benign spirituality. Please don't misunderstand my comment, by no means would Hate Eternal be considered a Christian metal band. Furthermore, as mentioned previously, I may have misunderstood the lyrical nature of the songs. If I didn't, then I applaud, appreciate, and commend the message behind the music.
Though an excellent album, "I, Monarch" is not without flaws. The most notable being the lack of diversity in the music. By this, I'm refering to the fact that blast beats make up the primary rhythm structure of every song. In addition, the guitar work of each song employs only a few riffs that create the entire song. For example, the aformentioned title track, though excellent, consists (almost exclusively) of one guitar riff played from beginning to end. Don't get me wrong, I love blast beats, as they make for the most intense and aggressive form of drumming. In addition, their liberal use on "I, Monarch" is something I rather enjoy. However, it (along with the lack of variation of guitar riffs) makes the album appear somewhat one-dimensional; and for a band as talented as Hate Eternal, that is a flaw that cannot be overlooked.
In conclusion, "I,Monarch" is an outstanding album, and anyone who enjoys extreme music will not be disappointed. I have read other reviews comparing "I, Monarch" to previous Hate Eternal albums. Unfortunately, I have yet to hear their previous work, so I have no basis for which to compare this album. However, on its own merit, "I, Monarch" is an album worth owning.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
by Hate Eternal 
