Hate - Daemon Qui Fecit Terram

HATE - Daemon Qui Fecit Terram (VOX MORTIS - MC 1996)

This album can surprise many Hate fans, who joined the legions of their supporters after some of the recent CDs like “Erebos” for instance. Why? Well, because Hate used to be quite decent, pure death metal band! Those were the days of no make ups, no black skirts and generally no “I-wanna-be-like-Behemoth” image. No keyboards, no black metal influence, but just straight up death metal. Yeah, and you know what? Even though I can’t say that the old Hate recordings are the best thing I’ve ever heard, I still prefer them way more than the new incarnation of this band… and surely prefer to listen to some of these early albums and demos than the mentioned “Erebos” CD.

“Daemon Qui Fecit Terram” is I think the most underrated Hate album. Maybe it’s because it never had its own CD version – originally it was released on cassette only, but you can find this album also as a joined release together with the second full length “Lord is Avenger”. Anyways, it’s weird that it never had its own, separate CD version – maybe something what should be fixed one day, as it’s really damn good and worthy album. Ha, I must even admit that I enjoy it nowadays more than I did back in the 90’s, maybe it’s due the sentiment I have for old Hate albums? Or maybe it’s because I also underrated this album a little back then? Don’t know, but I think it’s even better than “Lord is Avenger”, so…

Ha, those who remember Polish zines and magazines from the 90’s will remember that back then Hate was always struggling with the “Polish Deicide” sticker. This influence is also hearable on “Daemon Qui Fecit Terram”, but think of such albums as “Serpent of the Light” (which actually came up later than “Daemon Qui Fecit Terram”) or “Once Upon the Cross” rather than “Deicide” or “Legion” haha! There are surely some riffs, which are very much in the style of Hoffmann brothers, just listen to “Merry Christless” or “Lords of Sin” for instance. The latter is one of the best songs here and if only Adam had similarly demonic voice to Benton, then it would be almost on the verge of duplication. Luckily, he sounds different and his voice gives slightly different dimension to the whole music. But let’s be fair – it’s not that Hate sounds only like Deicide and is some sort of rip off band! No. And if someone says so, then he’s deaf and just stupid as fuck. Sure, Deicide did influence Hate a lot, but at the same time their music had also some original aspects and this is what makes it even more exciting. And first and foremost, this is killer brutal, aggressive satanic death metal, with many fast tempos, great drumming, some sick guitar solos and quite clean, but powerful production. And even the instrumental song “Cadentia” sounds nice… I am also glad that the albums contains no more than 30 minutes of music, as within this genre and brutal style it’s ideal timing I think… and even each song is rather short, hardly ever a song is longer than 3 minutes; most of them are around 2,5 minutes, what only gives even stronger impression of that aggressive, uncompromising and fierce, quick assault.

Yeah, for me it definitely sounds better than all past “Anaclasis” albums putted together. It’s a shame then that “Daemon Qui Fecit Terram” – and all early Hate recordings to be honest – are so damn difficult to find. I wish someone can take care of their re-releases, including their killer demos!

Standout tracks: “Animate the Blood”, “Heaven Like a Hole”, “Lords of Sin”, “Almost You Are Dead”

Final rate: 75/100