“HATE” “AURIC GATES OF VELES” Review

Released by Metal Blade Records

Release Date : June 14th, 2019

Genre : Blackened Death Metal

Links: http://hate-metal.com/

Tracklist:

1. Seventh Manvantara
2. Thriskhelion
3. The Volga’s Veins
4. Sovereign Sanctity
5. Path To Arkhen
6. Auric Gates Of Veles
7. Salve Ignis
8. Generation Sulphur

Line-up:

• Adam The First Sinner – Vocals, Guitars
• Domin – Guitar
• Pavulon – Drums
• Tiermes – Bass (Session)

Poland is the country of origin of many successful death metal bands and one of them is HATE, formed back in 1991 in Warsaw. They have been responsible for one of the most brutal and ruthless material that has been created in death metal scene and this year they are about to give their eleventh studio album to the world via Metal Blade Records. Since their previous record “Tremendum” of 2017, they have started exploring Slavonic Mysticism both musically and lyrically and they took a black metal style orientation with a darker, more atmospheric sound.

This new release is an invitation to the world of Veles, a Slavic deity that represents the dark element of existence. The opening track  “Seventh Manvantara” is a dynamic presentation of Indo-Iranian civilization and the prophet Zoroaster, considered as the roots of the Slavic world. “The Volga’s Veins” is based on one of the most bloody conflicts of the Russian history as seen with the eyes of Volga river. The crushing grooves and the dark atmosphere of the title track, the tragic mood of “Salve Ignis” and the raw closure with “Generation Sulphur” are some of the highlights of the record. The most outstanding moment of the whole album though is the epic anthem “Sovereign Sanctity” with the most impressive rhythm section and some black guitar melodies that give an obscure but glorious mood to the track. The story of the warrior that died in battle but never left this world completely gives birth to many questions about existence among the lyrics of this song.

Overall, HATE have adopted raw black guitar riffs and they have achieved in combining them with a sharp death drumming section in a very effective match. The final result is a perfect expression of the dark, dramatic and epic themes of the lyrics in this aggressive and raw blackened death metal sound. The theatrical atmosphere and the mixing of music elements together with an amazing production is what makes this record the most professional, solid and mature project of HATE to date.

Ratings: 7/10

Written by: Katerina Paisoglou

My Global Mind – Staff Writer

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Erik DeViking

Erik De’Viking is a London based freelance music journalist. His musical interests include blues, rock, and metal in all its forms, and he is constantly on the lookout for new bands and genres to discover and later preach about to the masses.

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