Hecate Enthroned are a black metal band from the UK and this is their seventh album.
Featuring members of Ba’al and Sidious in their ranks, legendary black metal act Hecate Enthroned return for the first time in seven years. What dark delights does The Corpse of a Titan, a Lament Long Buried bring to us?
Across 54 minutes of material Hecate Enthroned demonstrate their mastery of their art. It’s symphonic black metal atmospheric aggression blended with death metal brutality, and it’s extremely enjoyable. There’s just something about the band’s blend of old-school know-how and modern delivery that translates into a record that’s extremely satisfying to listen to. It manages to scratch both the symphonic black metal itch and the death metal itch at the same time.
The album has a crisp, powerful production that allows the music to come to life. As for the songs themselves, these more than stand on their own merits. Combining this sort of visceral aggression and atmospheric depth is not easy, but the band make it look like it is. That would be enough to make a good album, but they don’t stop there. The songs are elevated by the fact that they are also remarkably catchy and memorable.
The Corpse of a Titan, a Lament Long Buried moves from ferocity to grandeur, and leaves everything in its wake demolished. These songs contain worlds, all of them dark and forbidding, but also epic and enticing. They make you want to explore them, despite the inherent dangers in doing so. The dark aggression is intoxicating, and the majestic malevolence hypnotic. The way Hecate Enthroned take the listener on a journey of blackened worldbuilding leaves scars, but they’re worth having and to be treasured.
The only misstep is the interlude track Pwca, which is fine, but is too long for how good it is and breaks the album’s flow. It would also be better as an instrumental, (or left off the album completely, ideally).
Other than that one issue, put simply, this is a great album. Hecate Enthroned have a real skill for songwriting that brings together aggression, heaviness, atmosphere, and hooks. The production values hit the spot, and all aspects of the songs speak of attention to detail and passionate delivery. The keyboards and vocals are especially strong, but all of the band members have done a great job here. The Corpse of a Titan, a Lament Long Buried carried great expectations with it, but has actually managed to exceed them. Hecate Enthroned have delivered.
Essential listening.
Wonderbox Metal 