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Hecate Enthroned is a melodic black metal band formed in 1993 in the UK. The band’s first official release was an EP titled Upon Promeathean Shores (Unscriptured Waters), issued in 1995 by Blackend Records. Through the years the band has experienced numerous line-up changes, and have released four full-length albums: The Slaughter Of Innocence, A Requiem For The Might (1997), Dark Requiems... (1998), Kings Of Chaos (1999), and Redimus (2004), all through Blackend. The band play a style of black metal in the melodic and symphonic fashion similar to Cradle Of Filth and Dimmu Borgir.
Hecate Enthroned The band aim for a majestically evil sound, yet lack the compositional vision and artistic imagination to achieve that end. The music is devoid of powerful presence, since its core is hollow, and its intention is uncommitted. Songs are mostly constructed of uninteresting riffs and melodies, dominated by a lifeless keyboard sound which is hoped will produce something vast in the scope of dark and foreboding expression, yet fails to establish an appropriate mood. Rhythmic structure is typical of the style, but lacks the energetic pulse and creativity required for elevation, intensity, and fluidity. Vocals are in the Cradle Of Filth-styled high-end shriek with occasional low death growls, executed by a vocalist who lacks character, conviction, and emotional involvement. In the end, this band are the epitome of genericism in black metal. 2000 Time - 30:18 Line-Up Jon - Vocals Production: Recorded Summer 1995. Re-mixed Winter 1995 at Academy Studios, Dewsbury, Yorkshire. Prodiced and Mixed by Mags and Hecate Enthroned.
The band obviously believe in their agenda in
terms of style, but within the music there is nothing that gives the listener
the impression that this music needed to be made. All of the best black metal
albums possess this quality, that once experienced, it is impossible to imagine
its nonexistence. Hecate Enthroned exist for the sake of existing. Their
intentions are superficial because their motivations for playing black metal
lack substance. Not even on a purely aesthetic level can this album be enjoyed
since every element of its construction and the quality of its character is weak
and unnecessary. This kind of training-wheel black metal is easily understood
and accepted only by those who want something dark and evil to align themselves
with, yet who could never grasp the expressions of Burzum, early Emperor, or
early Enslaved, because those bands made music not just to be listened to, but
to be experienced, because it was created from experience, which gave it
purpose. Hecate Enthroned make unthreatening, sterile black metal, all the while
failing to recognize this as an absurdity. 2000 Time - 47:10 Line Up Jon - Vocals Production: - Recorded January 20th to February 3rd 1997. Produced by Andy Sneap. Hecate Enthroned Discography |
