Hate Eternal - Upon Desolate Sands (2018)

For the past two decades, Erik Rutan has positioned Hate Eternal as a top-line act. With Hate Eternal, Rutan has toured the world, released seven full-length albums — the latest of which is the incredible Upon Desolate Sands — done business with three different record labels, and, of course, interacted with fans on a very personal level. He’s seen it all and done it all. But Rutan’s still reaching for the horizon. Always. Perpetually. Whether with Hate Eternal or behind the desk at Mana Recording Studios — a multi-use studio owned and operated by Rutan — the New Jersey native (and diehard Philadelphia Eagles fan) has a never-say-die work ethnic. The dude’s a machine. The proof of that is Upon Desolate Sands, quite possibly Hate Eternal’s most significant work since Conquering the Throne sent shock waves through late-’90s death metal.

With Upon Desolate Sands, Hate Eternal — bassist J.J. Hrubovcak (Divine Rapture) and new drummer Hannes Grossmann (Alkaloid, ex-Obscura) round out the lineup — are issuing an edict. That is to say, death metal, as a genre, needs Hate Eternal and the directness, technicality, and spirit the group bring on songs like “The Violent Fury,” “Nothingness of Being,” “Vengeance Striketh,” and slow-burner “Upon Desolate Sands.” Just as death metal needed classics by Entombed, Carcass, Obituary, Death, Morbid Angel, and a host of others, in death metal’s 35th year, Hate Eternal is needed to keep the fury and flame alive.

Decibel is proud to not only interview Rutan but also to premiere — globally — the full Upon Desolate Sands album. Rise, Hate Eternal armies! Prepare for war…

TRACKLIST

1. Hate Eternal - The Violent Fury
2. Hate Eternal - What Lies Beyond
3. Hate Eternal - Vengeance Striketh
4. Hate Eternal - Nothingness of Being
5. Hate Eternal - All Hope Destroyed
6. Hate Eternal - Portal of Myriad
7. Hate Eternal - Dark Age of Ruin
8. Hate Eternal - Upon Desolate Sands
9. Hate Eternal - For Whom We Have Lost