Hela – A Reign to Conquer
Hela – A Reign to Conquer
Ardua Music
Release Date: 27/02/2026
Review by Laura Barnes
8/10
Generally speaking, Doom Metal exists to make one feel, well, doomed. It’s a genre that typically conjures up images of deep oceans and cosmic horrors. When I think of some of the biggest Doom Metal bands out there – Candlemass, My Dying Bride, Bell Witch – what I think about is how large and overpowering their music sounds – how colossal it feels. So naturally, when the kind folks at Ardua Music introduced me to Spanish Doom Metallers Hela, I was eagerly anticipating the sonic equivalent of a kaiju.
What a fool I was! Hela aren’t here for funeral bells and Cthulu-posturing. From the first few minutes of Hela’s newest release, “A Reign To Conquer”, it is clear that Hela are more concerned with exploring human thoughts and feelings, an approach that makes this release unique and refreshing. At seven minutes long, ‘Vessel To Nowhere’ is an ambitious opening gambit, complete with spoken word segments that paint a story of a slowly spreading disease and the race to find a cure. Pretty heavy stuff, right? You’d think so, but Hela have this strange superpower that allows them to dig deep without dragging the listener down with them.
It’s hard to say who exactly is responsible for this superpower, but partial credit must go to Hela’s vocalist, Raquel Navarro. “A Reign to Conquer” marks Navarro’s first album-length adventure with Hela, and her delicate touch melds beautifully with Hela’s atmospheric stylings. This is particularly evident on ‘Architect of Disorder’, a track so melacholy that it fills my head with crescent moons and empty hospital beds. Meanwhile, ‘Crystal Bridge’ offers a glimpse into Navarro’s edgier side, and is, in my view, a promising sign of things to come. With “A Reign to Conquer”, Navarro has proven that she has mastered the art of the ethereal. Now I kinda wanna hear her lose her shit.
Credit must also be given to Hela’s resident axeman, Julián Velasco. “A Reign To Conquer” is an album that is weaved together by Velasco’s soaring melodies. Even when Hela are traipsing through fields of despair and woe, one can’t help but be blown away by the beauty and elegance of the guitars throughout. And where there is beauty, there is hope! The guitar melodies on ‘The Infinite Tower’, for example, are utterly dazzling, and pair perfectly with the theme of persistence in the face of absolute fear. This song showcases Hela at their absolute best.
It has been well over a decade since Hela first formed in 2012, but “A Reign To Conquer” has proven that time has not dulled their passion in the slightest. Hopefully Hela keep on coming back, each time a little stronger, a little louder, a little wilder. For now, though, this is a great album for gazing at the night sky and letting yourself feel just a tiny bit sad. Even a kaiju can get sad sometimes, right?
TRACKLISTING:
01. Vessel To Nowhere
02. The Infinite Tower
03. Crystal Bridge
04. Emerald Mirror
05. Architect of Disorder
06. Nomad
LINKS:
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