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Oh, the brutality! Such could be perhaps the simplest summation of Erik Rutan's latest opus, but that would be lacking in depth and definition. Taking it from the top, 2008 sees Hate Eternal with both a new album, Fury & Flames, as well as a new label, Metal Blade Records. So what else is new? Nothing and yet everything. For this exercise in extreme Rutan recruited none other than Death Metal bass master Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse among others), relative unknown but nonetheless potent Jade Simonetto (Camilla Rhodes) on drums, and Shaune Kelley on second axe.
Does that last name ring a bell? Well, not unlike Robb Flynn bringing his old Vio-lence running mate Phil Demmel into Machine Head, Rutan has reformed the Ripping Corpse guitar tandem with Kelley (also of Dim Mak) now in Hate Eternal. "Jamming with Shaune after all these years was incredible as we... have always been an incredible guitar duo." The results? Dueling and harmonized leads are present throughout the album, but those on "Para Bellum" and "Bringer of Storms," in particular, are momentous, at times recalling the mighty James Murphy (yeah, that guy) in tone and timbre. The riffing is brutal enough while remaining interesting throughout, even invoking Morbid Angel on "The Funerary March." In fact, the dissonance on "Tombeau..." is simply masterful, as is this song's extended solo.
Otherwise, Webster's bass playing is a real treat, particularly for those listeners who seek an aural assault of the low frequency variety. Rutan described it thusly: "Alex literally created bass lines I have never heard before that were more like compositions rather than bass lines." The drumming is as maniacal as that of any 'big named' drummer, with Rutan hailing its "relentless speed, accuracy, [...and...] serious groove which was lacking from previous albums." As to Rutan's own contributions, specifically vocally, his voice is the effective but almost uniform guttural bellow peppered with occasional variations to keep from becoming monotonous.
A bit of a departure, "Coronach" is an outro that serves to recall some of the more experimental vibe from album predecessor I, Monarch, or even Rutan's work in Alas, replete with soaring vocals from Katy Decker (Mena Brinno). Regardless of whether Fury & Flames is an altogether original affair -- it is, after all, Brutal Death Metal -- the technical virtuosity with which it has been executed and the conviction thereof cannot be denied. It is worth noting that the passing of former band mate, Jared Anderson (also of Internecine and Morbid Angel), inspired the recording of this album. "Tombeau..." is dedicated to him and truly the highlight of the record. Briefly: brilliant Brutal Death Metal.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Hell Envenom |
| 2. Whom Gods May Destroy |
| 3. Para Bellum |
| 4. Bringer of Storms |
| 5. The Funerary March |
| 6. Thus Salvation |
| 7. Proclamation of the Damned |
| 8. Fury Within |
| 9. Tombeau (Le Tombeau De La Fureur et Des Flammes) |
| 10. Coronach |
: 39:55
| Buy other Hate Eternal albums |
