Hate Eternal has always been a death metal band for people who just want death metal. They?ve always seemed to be about no-frills or gimmicks, just brutal death metal. Of course, when you build your career upon such a reputation, you may encounter the danger of sounding monotonous and boring from album to album. But, a great death metal band is still a great death metal band, which Hate Eternal still proves they are with their latest album, Infernus. This is most definitely Hate Eternal?s brand of death metal done the best way it possibly can be done. The drum production is never overbearing or clicky, but punchy particularly in the snare when it needs it the most. Guitars are polished, but not too polished so as not to have removed all the grit and grime from a great death metal sound. It also helps all of his riffs sound distinct, rather than just a cacophonous mish-mash of sounds, especially when paired with blast beats. It all just sounds fantastic, and makes it easier to return to your favorite moments in the album. Rutan?s vocals also sound much better on this album than any other. The band very much has a reputation for blistering speeds in their music, and Infernus is no different. ?La Tempestad? is probably the most brutal song on the album. It?s so intense that it?s almost exhausting; it just never stops kicking the crap out of your eardrums over and over without a break. But there is also a good mix of slower, dirge-like songs as well, like the title track ?Infernus.? It?s the longest track and is also definitely the slowest. It?s a good little respite, especially coming right after ?La Tempestad,? and is a good little statement that Hate Eternal doesn?t need speed in order to be heavy. Another slower song, ?Chaos Theory? is actually an instrumental, which is again a very welcome contrast. But make no mistake; Infernus is one heavy piece of metal. Right from the opening track, ?Locust Swarm?, you get punched right in the gut with pure intensity and death metal brutality. All in all, Infernus is one huge masterful performance by one of the best death metal trios in the business.