HATE – BELLVM REGIIS Album Review

Album thirteen from Hate is releasing tomorrow, short notice I know, but better late than never… right? Lucky number thirteen? Nah. There’s no luck here, this thing is all precision, all intention, all fire. BELLVM REGIIS is a goddamn monster. I’ve had it on repeat for days now and it still hasn’t lost an ounce of impact. This one’s going straight into my physical collection. No hesitation.

It kicks off with the title track, and holy hell, what a way to start. It hits like a goddamn war drum, riff after riff, deep chugging, twisted tempos, and vocals that sound like they’re scraping straight out of the underworld. Gritty as hell and cold to the bone. This is how you open an album that demands your attention start to finish.

Track two, Iphigenia, keeps the pressure on. More distorted madness layered with eerie backing atmospheres, and when the vocals kick in, there’s this weird feeling like you’re being watched in a nightmare. It’s got triplets, tremolo, chugs; everything packed into one massive wall of sound. What really takes it over the edge is the layering. That lead guitar slices through and adds just the right amount of melody without softening the punch. Honestly, the whole production is spotless. Every track hits hard, sounds massive, and feels like it was dialed in with zero compromise.

Then comes The Vanguard, and by now it’s clear this band doesn’t fuck around with filler. Another long track, but it doesn’t drag for a second. Hate knows exactly how to build a song so that every section leads into the next like it was meant to be there. You’re not sitting around waiting for the good part; you’re already in it. Even at six-plus minutes, it flies by because it’s just that well-constructed. Verse, chorus, bridge, outro… all of it hits.

A Ghost of Lost Delight might be the second longest track, but again, it doesn’t matter. It’s just a straight-up pleasure to listen to, yeah, I said it. This shit is pleasant in its own crushing way. It blends all the extremes of blackened death metal so smoothly you barely notice the shifts. One second it’s slow acoustic guitars, next it’s full-blown blast beats. Then you’ve got these dungeon synth vibes coming in like some medieval war chant. It’s insane how well it all works. You could strand me on an island with just this album and I’d probably be fine for months.

Track five flips the switch. It’s short, atmospheric, and soaked in dungeon synth; chanting vocals, haunting female voice in the mix, deep bass and some low horns in the background. It’s eerie as hell, and it’s the perfect breather before the second half punches you in the throat again.

Track six is one of those songs where you can’t even explain the tempo, it’s fast, but it’s not; it moves, but it still grooves. Another killer blend. And again, the production just shines. Everything’s mixed perfectly. You’ve got those dark, chanty vocals creeping in again toward the end, and they just work. Nothing feels out of place on this album.

Track seven comes in swinging. The trem-picked main riff over those drums is impossible to ignore. I was driving home from a show listening to this track and found myself doing 135 km/h without even realizing it. That’s the kind of energy this thing brings out in you. It’s dangerous in the best way.

At this point, I could keep breaking down each song, but honestly, what more is there to say? Every track hits. Every moment is crafted. It’s tight, aggressive, dark, and has depth. The vocals from Adam Buszko, aka Adam the First Sinner, are just flawless. Deep, raspy, evil as hell but never overcooked. They sit right in the middle of everything, locking it all together. This guy knows exactly how to deliver.

What’s wild is this is my first time diving into Hate, and now I feel like an idiot for sleeping on them. I’m all in now. Going back through their full discography is officially on the list.

The lineup on this beast:

• Adam the First Sinner – Vocals, guitars, keys, samples, occasional bass
• Domin – Lead guitar
• Tiermes – Bass
• Nar-Sil – Drums

Final thoughts:
This album floored me. There’s no weak spot. No dead space. It’s got atmosphere, aggression, melody, depth, and a shitload of character. BELLVM REGIIS is easily one of the best releases I’ve heard in a long time. If I had to give it a number? Fuck it. 10/10. No question.