Hatebreed is definitely on the "metal" side of the "metal/punk" blend that makes hardcore -- this album even more so than the previous ones. There's even some guitar-solo stuff...but not so much to make this a metal album. It's still hardcore. A lot of the guitar riffs on "Perseverance" remind me of slam-dance style Slayer riffs. "That's not a bad thing, it's a good thing." (Diamond Dallas Page). They also remind me of Madball, and Agnostic Front's "One Voice" album. But as other reviewers have observed, this album does get repetitive. Or as my girlfriend put it when she first heard it: "All these songs are in the same key!"

Is that a problem? Not really. I went and saw Hatebreed live here in Richmond about a month ago or so. Live, the new songs blend in perfectly with the old material. It makes for a fairly seamless performance, unlike some bands that radically change their sound from album to album, then end up with a really odd set when they try to perform live. Hatebreed's consistency, while it gets a little repetitive when listening to the studio albums at home, contributes to an awesome live show. Good hardcore really shines live, and Hatebreed proves it. I've seen them several times over the years -- my original complaint was that their sets were too short. That's not a problem now, as they have built enough of a following and have enough solid material to headline for a good hour and a half without pause. The only thing I missed at the most recent show was the opening phrase, "Let the prison riots begin!" That's OK, though, because the show itself was as good as ever, if not better.

The crowd at the show was an interesting mix of young and older (middle-aged), hardcore kids, punks, metalheads, etc. I'd expect that at an Agnostic Front show, but it's good to see that Hatebreed has established a similar fan base, especially here in Richmond (a fairly conservative town, to say the least). From Hatebreed's first song to the last, there was a good pit going. There were no fights during their set either, which was almost surprising, considering the mix of people and that alcohol was being served. There was a fight during the previous band's set - and a universal reaction from the crowd, the staff, and the band: "People who fight at shows are idiots. Get out!" That was good to see - I hate it when people let their egos get out of control...and I consider it pure ego to think your fight is what I came to see, rather than the band. If you really have to fight, take it outside! You know you're going to get kicked out anyway, so stop wasting my time.

Anyway, Hatebreed's pit was fairly violent, but most of the kickboxing slam-dancers were smart enough to get themselves a clear space before throwing spinning jump kicks and the like. I don't think anyone got hit unwillingly, unlike some shows where the pit turns into a free-for-all and people start throwing punches and kicks everywhere. There were two options for people who didn't want to be in the pit -- stand at the edges, as usual at any club, or go upstairs and watch from the balcony. (The show was at Alley Katz in downtown Richmond, Va - a good venue.) Having those options helped contribute to the positive atmosphere at the show. The bottom line is that if you like hardcore, go see Hatebreed live. It's worth it.

OK, more details on the album. There are 17 songs listed on the CD, ranging from 38 seconds ("Outro") to just a bit over 3 minutes long ("You're Never Alone" and "Call For Blood"). Most of the songs are between two and three minutes. Vocals: you either like 'em or you don't. If you haven't heard Hatebreed, well, the vocals are all gruff, scream'n'shout stuff. No singing at all. Guitar n' bass: heavy, distorted, mix of quick-tempo and lots of chugga-chugga crunch riffs. Drums: I'm not a drummer, but sounds good, mix of tempos, no missed beats. Album production: good sound quality, good balance between instruments. This one's on Universal Records, but production sounds about the same as the prior album on Victory Records. Lyrics: suprisingly positive from a band with "Hate" in their name -- my girlfriend even liked some of them. There is some cursing, but not much (just about any gangsta rap album has a million times more). Here's a short sample, the last bit from "We Still Fight":

"For those who fought for our rights & for those who gave their lives/And for the families whose loved ones died/It's their honor for which we still fight"

This isn't whining punk kid stuff, complaining about parents and teachers. It isn't mere adolescent rebellion. The lyrics are full of anger & hate, but also support values such as respect, family, integrity, honesty, and well, perseverance. Nothing particularly earth-shattering there, but it's better than a lot of the so-called "hardcore" and "alternative" junk out there.

Recomendations: if you like old NYHC, heavier punk, heavier heavy metal, you should pick this album up. I can't guarantee you'll like it - even people who like these types of music are divided into two distinct camps. The "I love Hatebreed!" type and the "I do not like Hatebreed!" type. Give the album a listen and find out which one you are.

Recommended: Yes