Band:	Hate Eternal
Album:	Conquering The Throne
Style:	Brutal death metal
Release date:	November 1999

01. Praise Of The Almighty
02. Dogma Condemned
03. Catacombs
04. Nailed To Obscurity
05. By His Own Decree
06. The Creed Of The Chaotic Divinity
07. Dethroned
08. Sacrilege Of Hate
09. Spiritual Holocaust
10. Darkness By Oath
11. Saturated In Dejection

Hate Eternal is a death metal band started by Erik Rutan, who at the time had played guitar for Ripping Corpse and on Morbid Angel's Domination. The band's name was taken from an old Ripping Corpse demo song and they then acquired a deal with Wicked World Records, a subsidiary of Earache, and so began Erik Rutan's quest of instilling death metal brutality into his new project... Conquering The Throne had been spawned.

It seems the band doesn't waste any time with interludes or mystical-sounding openers, it's a full-force death metal assault from all sides cut into several, fairly brief offerings. The guitar has a little groove in it, but for the most part it's furious throughout the entire album. At times it lacks apparent distinction, instead relying on chugging and acting as more of a foundation, but at others it explodes into some catchy and powerful forefront riffs. This is also famed death metal drummer Tim "The Missile" Yeung's recording debut. His nickname is quite fitting, as he is an utter beast behind the kit. Kick drum, cymbals, tom-toms and snare, it's all here and rapidly played, making you hear lots of clanging too, but his skills definitely go well in this album. There are several harmonized solos scattered out there, but the music seems to be predominantly riff-driven. Erik Rutan is a decent growler, not extremely guttural or offering anything new, but he's respectable. Jared Anderson provides some backing shouts. As a whole, it seems to be stylistically similar to Krisiun.

Best of the bunch are "Praise Of The Almighty" (worthy, bombastic opener), "Dogma Condemned" (blazing track), "Catacombs" (nicely done, raging), "By His Own Decree" (one of the best, primordially aggressive but formidable), "Sacrilege Of Hate" (pretty damn furious), "Spiritual Holocaust" (arguably the best track, a good takedown instrumental) and "Saturated In Dejection" (a vigorous closing track, it seems Jared has the last laugh).

Although not innovative or revolutionary in any twisted meaning of the word, it's nicely done death metal ferocity. If that sounds like your thing, you'll at least appreciate it. If not, better luck next time, buster.