Hate - Anaclasis - A Haunting Gospel of Malice and Hatred
Listenable Records - posh077 - 2006
By Philip Whitehouse
Goat alone only knows what it is that gets the Polish death metal scene quite as pissed-off as their records would suggest they are, but whatever it is, Hate would seem to have been asking for double orders in preparation for bringing this particular onslaught down upon us. Never quite as well-recognised as their peers in the scene, Hate have nevertheless built up a respectable following in their sixteen year existence, and clocked up three internationally released albums and a live DVD. One suspects their star is about to rise, if Anaclasis... is anything to go by.
The most prominent weapon in Hate's arsenal is a big fucking howitzer of militaristic, high-velocity death metal, but the infantry is brought in the form of piercing, hook-filled melodies and an industrial, mechanized element that brings Zyklon to mind and gives Adam The First Sinner's (guitars, vocals, samples) compositions more variety - for example, 'Necropolis''s driving, palm-muted mid-section rhythm is augmented and offset to sinister effect with piston-like samples. 'Malediction', too, features clanky mechanised sample utilised to add extra percussive effect to a more mid-tempo section.
The production is, in a word, flawless - precise, powerful and clear with killer guitar tone and plenty of stereo-panning for added sonic interest during headphone/earphone listening. The performances match the treatment, too - Adam throws out an average of three to four memorable, killer riffs per song, and the inhumanly fast and precise drumming reaches jaw-dropping levels at times. Anaclasis... does fall into a few, predictable death metal traps, however. Despite the album's relatively short length, the band's pretty much unwavering dedication to up-tempo hyperblasting with occasional mid-tempo section means that the listener's attention span can begin to wander during the album's latter half, making the music fade into a homogenous background din. Also, Adam's vocals don't tend to match up to his riffwriting, staying pretty steadfastly in hoarse and growly mode. The one-minute sampled noise intro, too, is a typical death metal quirk that could gladly be erased from existence. In general, however, Anaclasis... shows Hate raising their game to include extremity that sees them beginning to snap at Hate Eternal's heels, and showcases new songwriting nous that should, if further development is made, be making Blood Red Throne glance nervously over their shoulders in the near future.
7.5/10
Official Hate Website
Official Listenable Records Website
Listenable Records - posh077 - 2006
By Philip Whitehouse
Goat alone only knows what it is that gets the Polish death metal scene quite as pissed-off as their records would suggest they are, but whatever it is, Hate would seem to have been asking for double orders in preparation for bringing this particular onslaught down upon us. Never quite as well-recognised as their peers in the scene, Hate have nevertheless built up a respectable following in their sixteen year existence, and clocked up three internationally released albums and a live DVD. One suspects their star is about to rise, if Anaclasis... is anything to go by.
The most prominent weapon in Hate's arsenal is a big fucking howitzer of militaristic, high-velocity death metal, but the infantry is brought in the form of piercing, hook-filled melodies and an industrial, mechanized element that brings Zyklon to mind and gives Adam The First Sinner's (guitars, vocals, samples) compositions more variety - for example, 'Necropolis''s driving, palm-muted mid-section rhythm is augmented and offset to sinister effect with piston-like samples. 'Malediction', too, features clanky mechanised sample utilised to add extra percussive effect to a more mid-tempo section.
The production is, in a word, flawless - precise, powerful and clear with killer guitar tone and plenty of stereo-panning for added sonic interest during headphone/earphone listening. The performances match the treatment, too - Adam throws out an average of three to four memorable, killer riffs per song, and the inhumanly fast and precise drumming reaches jaw-dropping levels at times. Anaclasis... does fall into a few, predictable death metal traps, however. Despite the album's relatively short length, the band's pretty much unwavering dedication to up-tempo hyperblasting with occasional mid-tempo section means that the listener's attention span can begin to wander during the album's latter half, making the music fade into a homogenous background din. Also, Adam's vocals don't tend to match up to his riffwriting, staying pretty steadfastly in hoarse and growly mode. The one-minute sampled noise intro, too, is a typical death metal quirk that could gladly be erased from existence. In general, however, Anaclasis... shows Hate raising their game to include extremity that sees them beginning to snap at Hate Eternal's heels, and showcases new songwriting nous that should, if further development is made, be making Blood Red Throne glance nervously over their shoulders in the near future.
7.5/10
Official Hate Website
Official Listenable Records Website
