01. Adar Rhiannon
02. Spirits Stir Within Our Ancestors Tombs
03. The Arcane Golem
04. Steed Of The Still Water
05. Pwca
06. Deathless In The Dryad Glade
07. A Gallery Of Rotting Portraits
08. The Boreal Monastery
09. Into A Vale Of Endless Snow

Out of the shadows and into the light. 

Ah, Hecate Enthroned, the other British symphonic black metal band from the 1990s. Often overshadowed unfairly by the more controversial Cradle Of Filth, Hecate Enthroned were never given the same time to shine as others got to enjoy, despite a plethora of talent and quality releases that made them worthy of such attention.

This continues to be the case thirty-three years and six albums later with the arrival of the band's seventh effort The Corpse Of A Titan, A Lament Long Buried, an album that beats out competition from the likes of Dimmu Borgir who similarly have just released a new effort after an extended period, but still take the spotlight away from the superior release by Hecate Enthroned. 

With orchestral flourishes adding dimensions to the band's otherwise brutal bombast, Hecate Enthroned don't skip a beat as the album kicks into gear with "Spirits Stir Within Our Ancestors Tombs", after the short breath of air that is "Adar Rhiannon". Even though seven years have passed since the band's last outing, The Corpse Of A Titan, A Lament Long Buried seamlessly picks up where Embrace Of The Godless Aeon left off, with only the replacement of Holmes for Hardy on drums and the calendar as proof time has passed since the band's last studio outing. It has been too long, but don't worry those cobwebs will have been blown away by the time the jet engine propulsive power that is "The Arcane Golem" revs up. 

The Corpse Of A Titan, A Lament Long Buried continues to highlight what Hecate Enthroned do best, contrasting sounds and motifs into a coherent collage of sound that is as ethereal as it is brain beating. The highlight of this is "The Boreal Monastery", showcasing melodic passages interwoven against a brutalist backdrop that combines to make one powerful track. Even when the band keeps these diametric opposites apart (compare the soft, mellow "Pwca" that provides a calming mid-album respite to "Deathless In The Dyad Glade"), they manage to make them equally compelling listens. 

While not a detriment to the album, Stamp's vocals do not add much to proceedings either. His harsh vocals epitomise black metal singing, but to the point of them sounding generic, lacking that unique edge or personality to separate him from the back. Not that this diminishes the enjoyment of tracks like "Steed Of The Still Water", but is something that overarches his tenure in the band. 

Hopefully for Hecate Enthroned, The Corpse Of A Titan, A Lament Long Buried can grab some of the headlines and spotlights away from other black metal bands and their less impressive recent efforts, and highlight what so many overlook. For those in the know, however, Hecate Enthroned continue to produce some of the best metal most haven't heard of.

Performance:	8
Songwriting:	7
Originality:	6
Production:	8