Hate Forest are a Ukrainian black metal band formed in Kharkiv in 1995 by bassist and multi-instrumentalist Roman Saenko. Closely associated with the Eastern European black metal underground, the band became highly influential for their hypnotic, militant, and atmospheric approach to black metal.
Known for minimalist yet crushing songwriting, repetitive riff structures, and overwhelming atmosphere, Hate Forest established themselves as one of the defining bands in Ukrainian black metal.
Hate Forest’s sound combines raw black metal aggression with repetitive riff cycles, warlike percussion, dense atmosphere, and bleak ambient textures. Their music frequently explores themes of nature, warfare, nationalism, desolation, paganism, and existential darkness.
The band are especially recognised for creating trance-like and oppressive compositions that emphasise atmosphere and emotional intensity over technical excess.
Scythia (1999) – early cult demo release introducing their bleak and hypnotic black metal sound.
The Most Ancient Ones (2002) – atmospheric and highly influential debut full-length album expanding their hypnotic compositional approach.
Purity (2003) – landmark Ukrainian black metal album widely regarded as one of the project’s defining works.
Battlefields (2003) – crushing and minimalist release focused on relentless aggression and martial atmosphere.
Sorrow (2005) – bleak and immersive release continuing the project’s cold atmospheric black metal vision.
Hour of the Centaur (2020) – comeback album release, dark and immersive, further refining their monolithic black metal approach.
Innermost (2022) – acclaimed release continuing the project’s cold, repetitive, and atmospheric black metal vision.
Against All Odds (2025) – latest release further exploring the band’s hypnotic aggression and immersive Eastern European black metal atmosphere.
Hate Forest are regarded as one of the most influential Ukrainian black metal bands, helping shape the atmospheric and minimalist side of Eastern European black metal.
Fans of artists such as Drudkh, Walknut, and Astrofaes are likely to appreciate their immersive atmosphere and relentless hypnotic aggression.
All Hate Forest releases we carry are official physical formats only, focusing on vinyl and CD editions sourced from authorised labels and distributors.
We also stock official Hate Forest clothing, representing one of the most respected names in Eastern European atmospheric black metal.
Hate Forest are a big part of the Eastern European Black Metal scene, so if you fancy exploring more like-minded artists, have a look through our BLACK METAL CATEGORY. You might also like to read our blog on the different subgenres of Metal \m/
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