Melodic Doom Metallers Hela Release A Reign To Conquer on Ardua Music!

Formed in Elche in 2012, Hela soon carved out a niche for themselves in Spain’s vibrant doom metal scene. Their 2013 debut album, Broken Cross, showed that Hela were not a band to be led by current trends or swayed by the ever-shifting winds of genre definition. Rather than following the herd they followed their hearts, listening only to the voice of their creative muse and the results were remarkable. Broken Cross was followed by 2017s Death May Die and 2019s Vegvísir, each another step along Hela’s unique path, each garnering increasing critical acclaim. The global pandemic and its aftermath, along with the more usual obstacles, opportunities and changes that life throws in our path, brought about a pause in the band’s journey – but now the ever-present trio of guitarist Julián Velasco, bassist Tano Giménez and drummer Miguel Fernández have returned, with new vocalist Raquel Navarro and a stunning new album…A Reign To Conquer.

As A Reign To Conquer begins with the cold, majestic riffs of ‘Vessel To Nowhere’ the atmosphere and emotion of Hela’s music settles upon your shoulders like a blanket of snow. Then the voice of Raquel Navarro rises through the sonic landscape and you know at once that Hela have found the perfect vocal accompaniment for their heartfelt laments. There is no overplayed artistry to Navarro’s delivery, just rich tone and genuine humanity. A Reign To Conquer proceeds to embrace and envelop, enthral and overwhelm with emotion as the ethereal ‘The Infinite Tower’ segues into the depths of ‘Crystal Bridge’ that reaches into the soul, somehow speaking to the secret sorrows in everyone. The songs all seem to lead perfectly, inevitably into each other…essential steps along this road through loss, towards a hoped for redemption. The final track – ‘Nomad’ – is a magnificent culmination of all that has preceded it, that seems to conclude with an open road still before us. And if that means that Hela will return with the next chapter in this voyage of reflection and self-discovery soon, then we can only give thanks that we still have far to go.

Ardua Music will unveil A Reign To Conquer’s sublime entwining of fragility and power, its exquisite marriage of hope and despair on CD Digipak and digital formats, with Tormo Records presenting the limited edition vinyl on February 27th. All formats will come complete with the compelling artwork of Deadsign – responsible for all previous Hela artworks – and the deft mastering magic of Dan Swano (Barren Earth, Hypocrisy, Novembers Doom, Novembre etc). Open your hearts to the subtle sorcery of A Reign To Conquer and welcome the return of the incomparable Hela.