Hecate Enthroned - The Corpse of a Titan, a Lament Long Buried (2026)

Hailing from the UK, Hecate Enthroned, for the uninformed, or just too young, was one of the few bands initially labeled Cradle of Filth clones back in the day. While there are similar elements between the bands, particularly the dramatic shrieks that the vocalists used, these guys kept on their own path and continued to release high-octane Symphonic/Melodic Black Metal. Only making us wait seven years between releases, “The Corpse of a Titan, a Lament Long Buried” is a testament to the band’s impressive timeless sound that is both crushing and lush.

After a mood setting intro, “Spirits Stir Within Our Ancestors Tombs” properly kicks off the release with the band’s usual bombastic style of lush keyboards alongside Joe Stamps signature shrieks. The guitar work of Nigel Dennan and Andy Milnes is excellent, creating very incisive riffs and superbly melodic parts, as “The Arcane Golem”, “Steed of the Still Water” and “Pwca” come around. While the dramatic keyboards create very dense and magical atmospheres, they are never overbearing and allow all other elements to shine through them.

With most songs over six-minutes long, the band’s ability to tell stories with their music is top notch. However, their raw and brutal side is always present as on the blistering “Deathless in the dryad Glade”, or the more solemn “The Boreal Monastery” that slowly builds momentum before it unleashes its ravaging intensity amongst dramatic melodies. What we love about releases from this outfit is how uniform and free flowing their music feels, as they have extensively polished their sound and identity.

Closing with the lush “Into a Vale of Endless Snow”, we are left wanting some more, and a bit saddened that we might have to wait some 5-7 years for it. That being said, “The Corpse of a Titan, a Lament Long Buried” is another brilliant Hecate Enthroned release that further cements their legacy and showcases their polish and finesse. If you are looking for an explosive Symphonic/Melodic Black Metal release that has a crystal clear production and yet has some retro-feeling elements, this is the one for you.

Rating: 97/100