HECATE ENTHRONED

Presented for your attention is the second album from the well-known British outfit that is constantly compared to their more renowned compatriots CRADLE OF FILTH. And rightfully so. Vocalist Jon picked up that "Cradle-esque" quality, having played in Filth's band just before founding this group. However, in vocal terms Dani is still a notch above, and besides, Jon's parts are mixed so that he's not particularly audible. But there are no serious complaints about the studio production quality. As you all (hopefully) well know or have already gathered, the Brits play keyboard-driven black metal. The keyboards don't exactly vie for the lead, remaining as a rule a melodic backdrop. The foundation is a barrage of blurred guitars, high-speed drumming, and the screams of a vocalist tormenting his throat. Standing out against the general backdrop are two atmospheric non-metal tracks — A Monument For Eternal Martyrdom and At The Haunted Gallows Of Dawn — where keyboards become virtually the sole instrument. And on the second of these compositions, a bell and some strings will put you on alert. Those who in our computer-advanced age of Photoshop and CorelDRAW have missed good old underground artwork will enjoy flipping through the booklet. And while the music doesn't particularly grab you, there's something to it — but very little.