Search - Hate Eternal :: King of All Kings

Satisfying, if not entirely memorable

A. Stutheit | Denver, CO USA | 01/12/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After donating seven long years of his life to Morbid Angel and Ripping Corpse, guitarist Erik Rutan decided to leave those groups to focus, full-time, on his side project, Hate Eternal. The group's second album, "King Of All Kings," was released in 2002, and pretty much just picks up where Rutan left off with his previous two bands.



There are only two speeds represented on "King of All Kings": very fast and lightning fast -- it's all about speed, speed, and more speed. Well okay, and crushing heaviness, too. Plus, every second of every rhythm of every song here heaps on gobs of ferocious energy, blinding tempos, scalding guitar leads, grumbling riffs, driving rhythms, ridiculously fast, carnage-inducing blast beat bonanzas (seriously, is drummer even Derek Roddy human?), and deep, "who dares disturb my slumber?"-esque bellows from Erik.



If you're an experienced metalhead and you listen extremely closely to these songs, you might remember one or two of them come album's end. For example, the opening title track is a great representation of "King Of All Kings," as a whole. Between the storming, jackhammer persistence of the smashing drums and the wall-of-sound guitar noise, there is absolutely no room for subtly, here. The music only breathes when a nice, melodic, ascending guitar solo crops up a ways into the song. The rhythmically pounding, thunderous, headbanging power chords which open up the seventh track, "Chants In Declaration," and the walloping, circular, almost buzzsaw blast beats during "Powers That Be" might also engrave themselves to your mind. But 99% of this album is just one long, ultra loud and speedy blur.



There are some advantages and disadvantages to making an album like this. "KOAK" definitely loses some points because every one of these songs, of course, blend together. Thus, in addition to having no real standout tracks, there are no classic songs anywhere to be found here, and there are only a couple of parts which are even remotely catchy.



But there are a few good aspects to making an album which is one long, incessant adrenaline rush. Firstly, it should at least be refreshing to any metalhead to hear no At The Gates influences on this C.D.. Next, this album couldn't be more tight, dark, brutal, blistering, hard-hitting, muscular, or punishing. Thirdly, "King Of All Kings" is completely stripped of fat, so it is very lean and mean, and every moment of this album oozes with rage and violence.



So, this is a hit or miss album (how much you like this album all depends on what your tastes in death metal are.) All things considered, it could definitely benefit from more standout songs, but what this album lacks in memorable songwriting it makes up for in sheer sonic exhilaration, vicious, crushing energy, throat-slashing intensity, and astounding musicianship. And besides, it may be entirely one mood, but there never was much room for texture or several different dimensions in death metal. So, if you're a death metal fan, and you don't mind a lack of standout tracks, go ahead: buy this C.D. and let it rip you apart. You'll be glad you did."

Brutal Death Metal

Aaron Burckhardt | usa | 03/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This band is like morbid angel meets suffocation. However, its darker than morbid angel and more brutal than suffocation, IMO. I cant wait to hear how they top this album."

Going to see hate eternal this june !

rottedpileofdecayskin | Massachusetts | 04/19/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Along with krisium and one of my favorite doom deathmetal act... Im going to have the plesure of catching hate eternal shredding and brutalizing every one on stage in worcester and it will be a blast ! Anyways, hate Eternal's "king of all kings" is without a doubt e brutal and yet very talent piece of music along with one disturbing sound... Buy it !"