Ah, good old Hecate Enthroned – veritable stalwarts of the UK Black Metal scene that have been around in one form or another for about twenty years whilst showing considerable resolve in the process. They’ve weathered the storms of trends coming and going, myriad accusations of being Cradle of Filth copyists (they’re not), derisive laughter when their repressed demo was compared to Emperor’s legendary debut (thanks to the absurd hyperbole of their label at the time) and the endless backbiting that once typified the UKBM scene. But here they are, two decades old and preparing to unleash their fifth full-length opus ‘Virulent Rapture’ upon the black metal hordes. If anything, they must be applauded for sticking to their guns for so long.
What may come as a surprise is that this the band’s first release in nine years – they’ve played live sporadically during this period but the line-up volatility which defined the band’s early days clearly resurfaced to hamper efforts to knuckle down and produce a follow-up to 2004’s ‘Redimus’ album. Now given a new lease of life with youthful Aeturnum frontman Elliot Beaver providing the vocals and new Italian label Crank music to give them a push, ‘Virulent Rapture’ sees Hecate Enthroned aiming higher than ever before.
This is a large-sounding album, no question – sonically, it is a cross between ‘Reinkaos’-era Dissection and the more grandiose elements of latter Dimmu Borgir. The similarities don’t end there with the pace frequently hitting that chugging 6/8 Dissection-esque gallop and keyboard player Pete favouring the ‘epic strings and choirs’ soundscape to conjure suitably bombastic symphonics. Opener ‘Thrones of Shadow’ boasts all of these elements and more, showcasing in particular the powerful lungs of Beaver who adds ferocity and dynamics to a forceful vocal delivery. The climatic ending almost out-Dimmus Dimmu in its strident orchestration. It’s a strong start.
Hecate Enthroned have clearly spent time on this material (well, nine years if you wanted to be facetious) and it shows. The title track is more guitar heavy with a wicked central refrain whilst ‘Life’ throws a minor curveball with its slower-pace and more ambient natural-harmonic utilizing motif. A brief acoustic interlude later on in the album (‘Immateria’) is suitably reflective and a welcome break. Mainly though, founding member/guitarist Nigel and the boys stick to a tried-and-tested formula – big, bouncy riffs, blast-beats with tremolo-picked Iron Maiden-influenced guitar lines and bombastic blasts of synth. It’s what they’ve been doing since the mid-nineties so I wouldn’t expect them to change significantly any time soon.
Their dedication to this style of resolutely dyed-in-the-wool (and oft-maligned) ‘symphonic’ black metal is admirable I guess and at least these chaps were there when this whole scene kicked off. The problem they are going to face is that by promulgating this approach, they are immediately going up against the big boys – Dimmu, Cradle et al – which is a tough call. That they have opted for such a ‘big’ polished production speaks volumes but, competent as it is, there are snags – the drums for example sound far too ‘fiddled’ and on occasion, programmed. In addition, whilst I like the touch of gnarly Swedishness to the guitars, on occasion their gravelly sound can seem at odds with the pristine nature of the material around them.
More than this though, they haven’t QUITE got the hooks. Dimmu Borgir may be a laughing stock in many quarters but no-one can deny that the Norwegians can pen a tune when it suits them. Hecate Enthroned have their moments, sure but for every highlight like the frenetic riff-fest of ‘To Wield the Hand of Perdition’ there are minutes of rather drab ‘melodic BM by numbers’ that has the attention span a-wandering. This is definitely a good album and a decent comeback from a veteran of the UK scene – nevertheless, it’s somewhat mainstream aspirations don’t quite hit home and whilst it’s not exactly ‘more of the same’, neither does it do much to reinforce the notion that Hecate Enthroned have evolved into a premier-league concern.
(7/10 Frank Allain)
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