### Hate Eternal: I, monarch

#### 23/03/09 || The Duff

I think it’s safe to say that ever since the band’s debut, Hate Eternal haven’t had the most sophisticated of followings as they’ve never broken new ground since Doug Cerrito’s departure and appear to be driven by brutality alone, the ace musicianship easily overlooked due to blistering drumming and Hellish vocals both blowing your scalp back. I consider myself quite the fan, though – there is an evil vibe that I find very easy to connect with when combined with Erik Rutan’s guttural, powerful vocals that set my soul on fire, making me feel as though I can walk through walls; when you do pick up on the undercurrent of guitars, you’ll notice the music is exceptionally executed, not overly stimulating on a cerebral front, but a straight and to the point smack to the side of the head, and so delivers what it says on the tin.

As for their albums specifically, the debut is awesome, very much recommended, the sophomore good but average in the grand scheme of death metal, and the latest, I’m afraid to say, disappointing – a little more than the “blastfest” staffmember Seker labeled it as in his review, but other than the awesome “Bringer of Storms”, most of the songs comprise pointless riffing. “I, Monarch” is where you should be looking if you want a more diverse Hate Eternal, and even if it is probably the least heavy of all four of the band’s albums, I would recommend it over all others despite my love of Doug’s abilities as a musician.

What makes this disc so good are the vocals, where I think the lyrical content combined with the enunciation and force put behind the performance make the music vastly more potent; the riffs range from average to good (the primary riff to “I, Monarch” is the only riff where Rutan loses the plot to the scale of “Fury and Flames”, as it’s unnecessary to the point of being ugly), but overall there’s nothing to get overly excited about save for a few bits and pieces, such as the final section of “To know our enemies” and the beginning of “Sons of darkness” – some parts to this album get ludicrously heavy, but in a pendulous, foreboding manner, and it makes me appreciate Rutan more than most.

The album is quite spaced out, all in all, but I would still consider it quite dense; this presentiment is chiefly enhanced by the drumming of Derek Roddy, who is as expected incredible, but the guitars do whip up a frenzy here and there, even if they do sound very glossy. The solos on this beast are out of this world – Erik Rutan is one fucken fast motherfucker on the gueetarz, and yet the feel is never sacrificed. Instrumental closer and the title track both have some extraordinary phrasing and a great sense of feel despite the ridiculous tempo of the notes played.

I know not many will agree with me when it comes to my adoration of this disc, but there is an energy on “I, Monarch” that can only be matched by bands like Vader and Behemoth – like with these two bands, the musicianship isn’t of the absolute highest caliber, but the intensity is, yet for some reason Hate Eternal are dismissed far quicker than the two Polish outfits when discussing worth in the extreme metal world. Every track but one here is awesome, a no-frills kick to the crotch; so it’s not breaking the mould, who the fuck cares? The music is tight, brutal, fun, and will make you feel like you can shit fire upon the faces of your enemies.

7 albums I would score a nine if it didn’t anger those of you not in love with Erik Rutan’s forehead out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 2005
- Label: Earache
- Website: Hate Eternal MySpace
- Celtic Frost
- Erik Rutan: vocals, guitars
- Randy Piro: bass
- Derek Roddy: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Two demons
- 02. Behold Judas
- 03. The victorious reign
- 04. To know our enemies
- 05. I, monarch
- 06. Oath to the eternal Gods
- 07. The plague of humanity
- 08. It is our will
- 09. Sons of darkness
- 10. Faceless one