ALBUM REVIEW: A Reign to Conquer – Hela

Since forming in 2012, Spanish quartet HELA have continued to grow and develop a deeply engaging melodic doom sound. With three albums already under their belt, HELA have honed into a style that enables them to engage elements of the heavier end of their chosen genre yet also capitalises on their personal strength of generating some mesmerising melodic moments.

With a spoken word introduction moving into a doomy atmospheric riff, Vessel To Nowhere begins HELA’s fourth album. The four-piece lay on a feast of interlinking melodies, memorable hooks, deep brooding rhythms underpinning the whole of the music. The vocals are dazzling, sitting atop everything and leading the way. The commanding presence of the vocals doesn’t overpower any other element, yet they are the most striking feature. While everything is soundly engaging and delivered well, this is one of those records where the majority of what is on offer is delivered in the first track and there is not a great deal of surprise or deviation. The talent and songwriting cannot be faulted, but the music doesn’t set new ground. Theres a definite formula and while HELA fulfil it expertly, dynamic and tempo changes can be a little predictable. This however does not necessarily detract from the overall experience of what is quality melodic doom.

The mid-point is where this album truly shines. Each musician is firing on all cylinders on Crystal Bridge, an anthemic power house of soaring vocals and catchy riffs. As a track it fully exemplifies the musicianship and songwriting capabilities of HELA. While it is laced with radio friendly rhythms to provide catchy hooks and a powerhouse chorus, there is an underlying melancholia that retains the doom sensibilities and showcases the authenticity of HELA to their chosen genre.

While there is a very neat production across the whole album, allowing for appropriate space to be allocated between the instruments, giving everything room to be clear and identified, some may point fingers at the mix as being too polished. The shine being intrusive to the music and creating an aura that’s too commercial. But, it is impossible to ignore that the production values are indeed excellent and do contribute greatly to the accessibility of the music. HELA create excellent melodies and heavyweight riffs and when it comes to tracks such as Nomad or Emerald Mirror, the final mix serves perfectly to convey the details of their songwriting.

With a melodic charm and dark heaviness, HELA have created a powerful and captivating album with A Reign To Conquer. It showcases the powerful songwriting capabilities of the quartet. In one instance able to delivery some intensely heavy doom and then weave in some uplifting chorus to utterly enthral. With several albums now under their belt and with a well-established creative edge, it would seem that HELA have grown into their sound. While there is nothing overtly complex in A Reign to Conquer, they have nevertheless delivered an album of sumptuous, intoxicating melodic doom.

Rating: 7/10

A Reign to Conquer is set for release on February 27th via Ardua Music. 

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