Hate – Bellum Regiis
Hate – Bellum Regiis
Metal Blade Records
Release Date: 02/05/2025
Review by Victor Augusto
9/10
I don’t know if I’m being blessed by a year full of incredible releases or maybe I am just paying more attention to what is going on, musically speaking. Maybe both things are happening to me. I can’t say I was an example of “the employee of the month” in the last year, by the number of reviews I’ve done! Luckily, this year I’m trying to stay more connected to this amazing team. As a consequence, I’m following more brilliant releases from legendary bands. As I used to mention, bands with decades of existence, who can still put out impressive albums really deserve my total respect.
I believe the Polish Death Metal band Hate dismisses introductions, even for alienated people like myself, because the last time I reviewed Hate, I didn’t know how big and respected they are, as I’ve never listened to much of their music. I loved the album “Rugia” and this time I asked for this new album to review, being 100% sure I would have good stuff coming from the band. What I could never imagine is how they surprised me with such a killer album that will easily be among the best ones of the year, for my musical taste.
I won’t dare to go deeper into the band’s theme for this album, despite the fact that there is a good explanation about it on their press release, stating things like the album title means “A War of Royalty” or “A War of Kings”. The interesting fact is how the dark atmosphere coming from this greed for power is related here, making the band put different feelings through the music itself, and is the main reason for this album sounds brilliant.
Let me use the first two tracks as examples. ‘Bellum Regiis’ starts smoothly with beautiful vocals from Eliza Sacharczuk, then we are suddenly hit by the power of Hate’s brutal Death Metal. So far, we have a masterclass of heavy riffs, well followed by fast double kicks on drums. But it still has space for melodies and slower notes that increase the dense atmosphere over the music. Sometimes there are fast passages with something inspired by Black Metal Influences, and if you think it is enough for one song, they still put cadenced riffs in a more Death (with a bit of Thrash) Metal style, that’ll make anyone bang their heads insanely.
Is it enough to love this album or not?
The second track ‘Iphigenia’ starts in a more cadenced way and brings that darkness stronger than before, also focusing on the Death/Thrash guitar picks (again), followed by the double kicks. Maybe this time, the melancholic melodies gain more space, but the aggressiveness is still there like an unstoppable power unit that puts energy into making everything go forward.
Basically, I covered what you are going to have along the entire album. Another detail that makes it a masterpiece is how it doesn’t sound repetitive or massive. For me, the biggest highlight of “Bellum Regiis” is exactly how they make you addicted to what is about to come. As a guitar lover, the work of ATF Sinner and Domin feels like something to be studied by NASA. The power of the drummer Nar-Sil is insane as well, and without the bass of Tiermes, this powerful wall of heaviness would not be possible.
“Bellum Regiis” is a masterpiece, and when you have it coming from a band with 12 albums already released before, during their more than 30 years of existence, it means they do deserve all the respect from the worldwide Heavy Metal scene!
Bellum Regiis Official Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. Bellum Regiis
02. Iphigenia
03. The Vanguard
04. A Ghost of Lost Delight
05. Rite of Triglav
06. Perun Rising
07. Alfa Inferi Goddess of War
08. Prophet of Arkhen
09. Ageless Harp of Devilry
LINE-UP:
ATF Sinner – Vocals,Guitars
Domin – Guitars
Nar-Sil – Drums
Tiermes – Bass
LINKS:
Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Victor Augusto and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.
