Reviews list for Project Hate MCMXCIX, The - Death Ritual Covenant (2018)

Since 1999, the Project Hate MCMXCIX (formed in my birth year and having its roman numerals in their name) is known for their Swedish death metal sound spiced up with industrial/symphonic elements that have been prominent since the mid-2000s. The project founded by guitarist/bassist Lord K Philipson and vocalist Jörgen Sandström had recently abandoned the more typical song lengths for an aspect that has covered their 2010s albums and beyond; 6 tracks with an average 13 minutes each, almost hitting the 80-minute CD limit. Death Ritual Covenant is a more industrial example of that technique...

Basically their symphonic-infused death metal sound, similar to 2000s Septicflesh, is given a more progressive and industrial treatment. Adding in bits of flamenco and EDM shows that experimental alt-metal bands like Dog Fashion Disco and Twelve Foot Ninja aren't the only bands who can do that. The deathly grandeur is strong within the mechanical riffing and bass by Philipson and the harsh growls by Sandström.

The opening title track provides a great example of that brutal riffing, with the main melody sticking around at the right times from start to finish. Storming on is "The Eating of the Impure Young", a 15-minute death metal epic, apart from adding in some strange dubstep in the middle. Strange but quite welcome!

"Legions" seems to take on the dramatic deathcore of Whitechapel and Winds of Plague but without much of the "core". There are also some guest vocals by Darkane vocalist Lawrence Mackrory. Deathly power shines in "Through Fire There is Cleansing" with more of Philipson's guitar weaponry. Johan Hegg of Amon Amarth also guest appears in this track, along with track 2 and this next track...

"Inferno" is shorter than the other tracks in the album, with a length of 10 and a half minutes ago. It's like the progressive death metal of the first two Extol albums with pieces of Amaranthe and Dir En Grey. "Solemn" is the epic finale, having the melancholic melodeath of Omnium Gatherum while still covered in electro-industrial beauty.

Making an album filled with long epics can be risky, especially when they had to add so many ideas and make sure the 80-minute CD limit isn't surpassed. However, it has mostly paid off, as the charm is never lost. Death Ritual Covenant is a solid album up for an adventure of adventures. It might get a little tiring, but you just gotta appreciate this band's determination to explore with barely any limits....

Favorites: "The Eating of the Impure Young", "Through Fire There is Cleansing", "Solemn"