It takes quite a bit for me to get excited by modern death metal. Aside from Nile, Dying Fetus and Goatwhore I don't really pay that much attention to it. Another name to add to that list would be Hate Eternal. I've always been enamoured by frontman Erik Rutan's undying love and passion for extreme metal, not to mention he is one of the most talented musicians the genre has ever had. Even though his career highlight of his stint in Morbid Angel has passed (witness the solo tradeoff between Rutan and Azagthoth in 'Summoning Redemption' - spellbinding), Hate Eternal still have a lot to offer.
In contrast to the suffocating production and incondite songwriting of 2008's Fury And Flames, PATA is far more clear and focused, without ceding any brutality for polishness. Rutan has once again tinkered with the lineup, but this appears to be HE's best yet. You can just feel the band's confidence coming out of your speakers, from the start to the finish of the album. Opener 'Rebirth' oozes hellish atmosphere, serving as a build up for the aurally sodomising 'The Eternal Ruler', which along with the following song, 'Thorns of Acacia', showcase everything that is to love about Hate Eternal - Rutan's trademark atonal riffage (employing excessive yet tasteful use of the tritone), his divine harmonised harmonic minor leads and savage blasting with clever usage of rhythmic patterns. The rest of the album continues in similar fashion - although if your eardrums haven't burst by the title track then you're doing very well.
An excellent record - perfect antidote for the dross that is the new Morbid Angel.
8/10
Highlights : "Haunting Abound", "Thorns Of Acacia"
See also - Morbid Angel, Nile, Suffocation, Dying Fetus.
This write up is pretty good. I'm in charge of the metal section at EMURG, a website dedicated to finding and reviewing small/unsigned/independent bands. If you are interested in writing for us, contact carey@emurg.com
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