Hate Meditation will probably be a vaguely familiar name to many, from the relatively distant past; the band formed in 2003, recorded a three track demo entitled Condemned To Death, and then disappeared again, seemingly to be forgotten forever. However, founder Blake Judd – yes, him of Nachtmystium and Twilight – reformed the band with a radically different linuep in 2012 and recorded Scars, the band’s debut full length album.

Judd initially formed the band as an homage to classic ‘bestial’ black and death metal bands such as Beherit, Profanatica and Blasphemy. After ten years, and with several different musicians involved, it seems inevitable that the new Hate Meditation material would be markedly different; it is. Whilst the raw black metal sound is still very much dominant, the music is much more diverse, making way for subtle acoustic guitar and synth passages. These serve to give the band a definite identity of its own, whereas, all those years ago, they were more concerned with sounding like specific other bands.

After an ambient yet ominous intro, Scars explodes into a cacophony of dirty, old school black metal, complete with primitive production values and an atmosphere violently carved from the blackest obsidian. The guitar work is particularly striking, at times reminiscent of Emperor without the orchestral elements, but always inventive. It’s this element which make ‘End Times’ and ‘The Genocide’ highlights, with Judd weaving horrific melodies into his leadwork. Outro track ‘Shadow World’ is arguably the standout, and ultimately the album’s showpiece; its 11 minute length contains a concoction of piercing feedback, fiendish guitar and drum work and a vocal performance weighted in seemingly insurmountable agony, all of which builds to a powerful climax.

Scars is a highly accomplished album which should appeal to anyone who prefers their black metal raw, ugly and 100% unpolished. It’s not groundbreaking, but it is a fine example black metal in its purest, most unpretentious form. Let’s hope it’s not another ten years before the next Hate Meditation release.

8.5/10

Matt Ford

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