HATE Bellum Regiis CD Review

Back in the early 2000’s to the mid-2010’s, the original incarnation  of Black Angel Promotions was on fire. We were highly sought after by all the major metal labels like Metal Blade, Nuclear Blast, Napalm, The End, Southern Lord and a plethora of others. We were also getting tons of non-metal material during this time frame as well. A typical weekly update would include anywhere from 10-15 reviews plus an interview or two. No matter how many we belted out, there was a never ending supply of material to get to. We could never get caught up no matter how diligently we worked and, at least for me, it was very difficult to get a chance to slow down and really delve into an album or artist that I enjoyed because of the pressure we were under. This is one of those cases.

I recall reviewing and really enjoying HATE’s 2013 release ‘Solarflesh’. I intended on digging into their back catalog and putting them on my radar for bands I wanted to keep up with to see what would become of them in the future, but that never happened. The constant barrage of new material just kept hitting and Black Angel and I were there to keep the labels happy. HATE fell through the cracks. I sometimes lament the thought of other bands who fell victim to this, but I was exposed to a lot of great bands, many of whom I still listen to, so I consider it a wash.

Once it was brought to my attention that their new album ‘Bellum Regiis’ (roughly translated to “A War of Royalty” or “A War of Kings”) was releasing in May of this year, I had to get my hands on it. Not only to enjoy their blackened death metal melodies, but because I feel as if I owe it to myself to pick up where I left off 12 years ago. And quite frankly, if I waited all that time to come back to find what’s here, it was more than worth it. I still feel a lot of their Polish brethren here in Vader and Behemoth, but HATE’s melancholic, brutal and beautifully crafted atmospheres set them apart. The opening title track, “Perun Rising” and “A Ghost of Lost Delight” tap into more of the isolation, bleak and aforementioned melancholy which serves the songs well which highlights the regret therein. “Alfa Inferi Goddess of War”, “Ageless Harp of Devilry” and “Prophet of Arkhen” remind me more of what drew me to the band all those years ago with their heavy, overwhelming brutality that I cannot get enough of.

And while I may have missed this progression on previous albums, I am appreciating the band’s efforts made by including female vocals, acoustic guitars and the amount of orchestration used to create this grandiose effort that is ‘Bellum Regiis’. I’m hooked again and I will not allow myself to let them fall by the wayside again.

~TJ