Review by Ryan Harding

HATE ETERNAL: CONQUERING THE THRONE Wicked World

"It’ll be two speeds - fast and super fast," said HATE ETERNAL guitarist /vocalist Erik Rutan at the MORBID ANGEL / NILE show a year ago (1999). Known for brandishing the axe in RIPPING CORPSE and MORBID ANGEL, HATE ETERNAL is Rutan’s own death metal apocalypse. The HE trademark is swift, technical punishment rounded out by ex-SUFFOCATION guitarist Doug Cerrito, former INTERNECINE bassist Jared Anderson, and drummer Tim "The Missile" Yeung (at least on this album; Doug and Tim have since departed with Derek Roddey from AURORA BOREALIS and MALEVOLENT CREATION becoming the permanent replacement; there has been no replacement on guitar).

The album opens appropriately with a bomb exploding, as that is what the next 34 minutes feels like. "Praise of the Almighty" leads off, a whirlwind of alternating double bass blasts and heightened devestation courtesy of Jared’s back up vocals. "Dogma Condemned" follows, one of the album’s many stand-outs, if not THE. It crushes through the first couple minutes before erupting in a technical trash segue in postmodern RIPPING CORPSE splendor (a feature which also boosts "By His Own Decree").

Doug Cerrito contributed three tracks, all of which trample even the frenzied rhythms he wrote on DESPISE THE SUN. "Spiritual Holocaust" is the arguable favorite, which manages an effective build-up, a further escalation, solo break, and massacre reprisal in a mere three and a half minutes. Generally solos for me are a necessary evil intermission, but Rutan’s are skillfully executed and secure a definite identity. The one from "Dogma Condemned" is perfection. No weak links exist on this work, it is all hell-paced annihilation. When you expect it to give an inch something like "The Creed of Chaotic Divinity" comes crashing down on you.

Their live show is just as energetic and precise, and we’ve been assured the next album will be even faster.

I figured the latest ANGEL CORPSE was the sure victor for best death metal album of 1999, but HATE ETERNAL is certainly an equal contender. If you missed this, repent.

5 SKULLS

This review copyright 2000 E.C.McMullen Jr.

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