Spanish melodic doom metallers Hela have presented the first video single, "Emerald Mirror", from their forthcoming full‑length, A Reign To Conquer, due on 27 February via Ardua Music (CD digipak and digital) and Tormo Records (limited-edition vinyl).

Formed in Elche in 2012, Hela quickly carved out a distinctive niche within Spain’s vibrant doom metal scene. Their 2013 debut, Broken Cross, made it clear that Hela were not a band to be swept along by trends or the shifting sands of genre definition. Instead of following the herd, they followed their instincts, guided solely by their creative muse – and the results were striking. The debut album was followed by 2017's Death May Die and 2019’s Vegvísir, each marking another step along Hela's singular path and each earning increasing critical acclaim.

The global pandemic and its aftermath – along with the usual obstacles, opportunities and upheavals that life brings – imposed a pause on the band's journey. Yet now the ever‑present trio of guitarist Julián Velasco, bassist Tano Giménez and drummer Miguel Fernández return, joined by new vocalist Raquel Navarro, with a remarkable new album: A Reign To Conquer.

As the album opens with the cold, majestic riffs of "Vessel To Nowhere", the atmosphere and emotional weight of Hela's music settles upon the listener like a blanket of snow. Then Navarro's voice rises through the sonic landscape, and it becomes immediately clear that Hela have found the perfect vocal counterpart for their heartfelt laments. There is no overwrought theatrics in her delivery – only richness of tone and genuine humanity. A Reign To Conquer continues to embrace and envelop, to enthral and overwhelm, as the ethereal "The Infinite Tower" flows into the depths of "Crystal Bridge", a piece that seems to reach into the soul and speak to the quiet sorrows carried by all. Each song leads naturally, almost inevitably, into the next – essential steps along a path through loss towards the faint light of redemption. The closing track, "Nomad", stands as a magnificent culmination of all that precedes it, ending with the sense of an open road still stretching ahead. And if that means Hela will soon return with the next chapter in this voyage of reflection and self‑discovery, we can only be grateful that the journey is far from over.

A Reign To Conquer was mastered by Dan Swanö (Barren Earth, Hypocrisy, Novembers Doom, Novembre, etc.), while Deadsign – responsible for all previous Hela artworks – once again provided the visual design. Open your hearts to the subtle sorcery of A Reign To Conquer and welcome the return of the incomparable Hela. Link