Anybody who knows me will know fully well how obsessed I am with heavy metal music. Although it’s a generalised genre for most, for fans of it, there is an even bigger diversity of genres to choose from. For me, one of my most listened to and talked about bands is the Connecticut hardcore quintet Hatebreed. A band full of raw power and energy, who only improve with each album. Their latest one, however, could be the pinnacle for the band.
A new listener wouldn’t think this is a band who has earned their spot as one of the pioneers of the modern hardcore wave. Hatebreed are just capable of crafting a hybrid of the downright brutal with catchy melodic hooks and memorable lyrics. Their latest album, The Divinity of Purpose, released in the UK only last month, proves firsthand how musically versatile the band are.
The Divinity of Purpose is not an album for the faint-hearted, nor is it an album for casual listeners. The low and harsh beat downs are reminiscent of a lot of their earlier work, but this is mostly a close resemblance of their self-titled record released in 2009, which featured stints of clean vocals and more of an emphasis on vocal multiplicity. Hatebreed was an album not like many of their previous magnum opus’, and while still popular with their ‘Diehards’ (a self-proclaimed name for their fans), casual listeners felt somewhat unimpressed. However, The Divinity of Purpose caters for everybody, whether its breakdowns, a substantially-improved vocal performance from frontman Jamey Jasta or just something to go a bit crazy to. Songs like “Put it to the Torch”, “Own Your World” and “Before the Fight Ends You” are real standouts.
Since the release of Satisfaction is the Death of Desire in 1994, almost twenty years of relatively short but all the more dirty and angry albums have overshadowed their age as a band. Listening to Perseverance (2002) The Rise of Brutality (2003) and Supremacy (2006), the musical style change has only but improved. The songs have taken a lyrical improvement too, and don’t seem to be just about overcoming obstacles and struggles.
Nuclear Blast Records should be proud and look at 2013 as the start of a great year for music. But I would encourage anyone who knows any Hatebreed or any other hardcore for that matter to give it a listen.
Myself, I have seen Hatebreed live not more than six times, and their UK tour this May will be my seventh gig. For me, I look forward to hearing the crushing rhythmic viciousness of the band and singing along, although singing is an overstatement and impossible knowing my vocal ability.
As a whole I would give the album 8.5/10 – it’s a fantastic listen but I don’t think the band can quite recreate what Supremacy offered.