Hate - Bellum Regiis

Hate is a blackened death metal band from Poland, who formed in 1991. Their latest album, “Bellum Regiis,” is their 13th full-length album! The quality of their output is consistently high—one of the most solid discographies in extreme metal.    

People tend to compare Hate to Behemoth and Vader, claiming they sound like those two bands but, really, they are just saying that because they are all from Poland. Decapitated are from Poland as well; do Hate sound like them as well? Of course not.  

The truth is Hate does their own thing. Their music is perhaps too extreme to be as memorable as some of their brethren but for immediacy, urgency, and pure fucking brutal energy, it’s hard to beat Hate.

Vocalist/Guitarist Perun is still the MVP of the band; his vocals sound ageless and as potent as ever. His riffs remain a smorgasbord of pummeled grooves and destructive riffs. Alongside lead guitarist Domin, the two of them spend the album’s 46 minute runtime ripping through like a fiery hurricane.

Tiermas (bass) and Nar-Sil (drums) are somewhat newer additions to the band, having joined a few albums back. But they continue to show their worth with one of the more beefy, dense rhythm sections I’ve heard this year. 

The album begins with a bold statement by opening with the title song. The light acoustic guitar and spoken word vocals, not to mention angelic cleans, are an atmospheric touch that I appreciate. 

These opening moments also make it the song all the more explosive when the band jumps into the deep at full speed. There are subtle moments throughout the track where the band pulls back a little; I like this, giving some open textures among their metallic ruins. Just after the mid section is another small atmo piece that leads into a rip roaring guitar solo that is then followed by an avalanche of riffs. One hell of an opener!

It’s business as usual for the rest of the songs but each one has moments that grab me—and keep me coming back for more. The beginning of “The Vanguard,” opens with swirling riffs that are just melancholic enough to add a sense of tragedy to them. I don’t mind my blackened death being moody and Hate really knows how to navigate those waters. The later half throws in a sudden and short (but well placed) acoustic section before launching into some of the album’s best riffs.

The later half of the album is made of shorter songs but also some of the best on the album. “Alfa Inferi Goddess of War,” is fantastic—I love the rumbling bass and double bass drums in the beginning…they truly sound like war has arrived. 

The song’s atmosphere is one of finality, the riffs being the weapons of choice for that ending. Early on, a solo builds its way through the chaos, helping lead the guitars into very melodic tinged riffs, very subtle but also speaking volumes. Near the end, a couple of little clean/acoustic passages separate the riffs but it makes for an epic ending.

The final song, “Ageless Harp of Devilry,” is a banger through and through—one of the most uncompromising songs on the album and a strong way to end it. The bass is especially monstrous but I can’t discount the drumming–exhilarating performance. Around the 2:00 mark, the riffs galloping in and out of groove with thick chops like a guillotine coming down on a person’s head—it’s terrifying yet I couldn't stop banging my head. In the final minute of the song, the band rains down fire, bringing the riffs crashing down to all below. When the song ended, I felt like I just ran a marathon.  

With “Bellum Regiis,” Hate once again prove why they are one of the most respected bands in the scene and why, after 30 years, they are still unstoppable.  

Rating: Excellent