God bless us, everyone…
Released in late November 2013, but ’tis the season to be jolly so re-publishing this review felt, well, festive…
Review by Jason Guest
An independent release available on Bandcamp here
It’s that time of year, folks! That advert – you know the one I mean – is back on our screens and so the cathedrals of consumption are busting at the seams with the masses frantically plundering all and sundry for that ideal gift for their loved ones. And as is customary at this time of year, metalheads find themselves the victim of perpetual aural torture in the form of that unending shitstream of nauseating songs that revere some bloke whose own father allowed him to be nailed up among so many others under the rule of an oppressive empire while simultaneously preaching love and kindness for a species who considers material gain to be the true spirit of the period.
So, you’ve got your Slayer Christmas jumper, your sparkling balls are dangling from the tree – the Motorhead logo glistening against the tree lights – and you’re just about to make a start on the Iron Maiden advent calendar. What’s missing? Yep, you need a soundtrack for this fetid – sorry – festive period. Well, Satan rest ye miserable not-so-gentle men and ladies, Hate Eternal bassist J.J. Hrubovcak has delivered unto us five interpretations of his favourite traditional hymns.
Aware that a sarcastic rendition would have been too obvious – and unforgivably naff – Hrubovcak has paid close attention to the music and his arrangements are rammed with the ugliest and most brutal of sounds from the low end of the ruthlessly punishing blast beats and grimy guitar riffs to the guttural and gruesome vocals (provided by brother/Monstrosity vocalist Mike Hrubovcak) and wailing lead breaks. And to top it all off, he’s altered the lyrics of them to tell a dark tale involving Azrael, the angel of death in some Islam, Sikhism and Hebrew lore (details of which can be read here). Now we can all spend Christmas listening to what we want to. God bless us, everyone.
Track listing:
- Unrest For Melancholy Men (God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)
- Earthen Kings (We Three Kings)
- Nutcracker: Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy
- Greensleeves
- O Come, O Come, Azrael (O Come, O Come, Emmanual)
