Reviews list for Hate Eternal - I, Monarch (2005)

Arguably one of death metal’s most often overlooked bands, Tampa’s Hate Eternal have still been at it for the best part of three decades. In that time, they have managed to release seven albums, count the likes of Hannes Grossman, Tim Yeung, Derek Roddy and of course the mainstay of Erik Rutan in their ranks at various points, and share stages with the likes of Nile, Vader and Fear Factory amongst many others. Mr Rutan himself is a much lauded produced and all-round utility man, having been drafted into twist the knobs for the likes of Cannibal Corpse and Morbid Angel who have both also used him for his guitar playing skills in the past (indeed, my understanding is that he is a permanent fixture still in CC). Averaging around one release every three years, Hate Eternal have consistently churned out albums up until 2018 when they appear to have become distracted from the project. It was hard when looking to showcase an album of theirs to find a “classic” release. Arguably this is just as true from the perspective of looking at their discography in isolation as it is from looking at them within a whole genre view. Hate Eternal might be work-horses but it is rare to find a record they have done that is reviewed all that highly, in the truly standout section of the ratings on MA.

It could be argued that Rutan’s best work was prior to Hate Eternal, with the time he spent in Ripping Corpse and the initial three-year stint from 93-96 in Morbid Angel perhaps being considered more noteworthy in comparison. That having been said, for me personally, Covenant is one of the weaker MA albums. On the flipside, the one and only release from Ripping Corpse is an absolute banger of a record. In selecting Hate Eternal’s third full length release, landing some eight years into their existence, as the feature release for The Horde this month, I feel I have selected perhaps a very representative Florida death metal-sounding record. I have too little experience of the entire discography to possibly place it in any ranking against the rest, yet I Monarch is clearly based on the type of ultra-fast death metal indicative of the likes of Deicide and Morbid Angel. Add to this some of the more technical tropes and brutal bludgeoning’s of Suffocation and Nile and you soon have record worth reckoning with on your turntable.

At the same time, I can pick up similar sounds from other artists who never quite manage to crack the higher echelons of death metal. The sameness that can haunt the likes of Krisiun and Vader does touch the content of some tracks on I Monarch. Equally though, the ripping intensity of the main riff of ‘The Victorious Reign’ is undeniably infectious. The drumming of Roddy on this record is exceptional I feel, and the instruments are all well represented in the mix and have a good sense of clarity from the production overall. Rutan’s vocals are suitably monstrous, and his songwriting is at times top-notch (‘Path to Eternal Gods’). Whilst I may not necessarily be a fan of his solo work, it does still bear recognition for being unique in its tame molestation of my ears as it plays. Ironically, the title track is perhaps my least favourite song on the album as it completely lacks cohesion and sounds like a b-side on an Immolation single.

Whilst I Monarch cannot justify a place in the higher end of the ratings spectrum; it is one of those records that feels as if I am short-changing it by awarding it in the middle range. It does however fall short on the truly standout moments and overall is not strong in the memorability stakes as a result. Whilst not overly technical, there are sections that feel lost on me and consistent application of my attention does prove difficult throughout the complete listening experience. In so many ways, I Monarch makes it clear why Hate Eternal never quite hear their name in the same conversations as some of the real heavyweights of death metal.