Hatecrowned is a black metal group from Lebanon. Fitting in nicely with the rest of their Satanath Records, these musicians have so far released an EP, and the topic of today's review, Newborn Serpent. If you like your black metal with a touch of death, just press play.
The bass on "For Scum Thou Art, And Unto Scum Shalt Thou Return" is a swaying pendulum of grimness. Its deliberate pacing is in stark contrast to the racing tremolo patterns. But if there is something here with more rampancy than the guitars, it's the vocals. Sounds tear and spew forth as opposed to what could be called a "delivery." The register favors high shrieks and howls, but sometimes dips into a death growl.
Speaking of death metal, there is definitely an element of melodeath in the solos and some of the riffs a la Dissection. "Newborn Serpent" comes to mind, with it's increased focus on melody and hooks, not to mention the acoustic inclusions. And "Funeral Reverie" opens like a straight up brutal death entry with its grunts and guitar squeals before returning to its more blackened sensibilities.