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Hatebreed

Weight of the False Self

Written by: MAK on 02/12/2020 01:16:42

For over two decades, Hatebreed has been tearing up scenes in heavy music with their brand of “hardcore meets metal” that lies perfectly between both genres, enough to appeal to both sets of fanbases. There has always been a sense of “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” mentality to Hatebreed, album after album has been laden with pit-ready bruisers that could fuel fires in any live crowd, lacking mostly diversity in their talents. The challenge for album number eight, “Weight Of The False Self”, is standing out against a pretty solid back catalogue.

Right from the get-go with “Instinctive (Slaughterlust)", we are treated to trademark Hatebreed fury, crunching grooves and breakneck riffage. Jamey Jasta spitting venom with his distinctively commanding shouts and the gang vocals to back him up. Immediately you have a pit starting banger with the regular chants to entice crowd interaction. “Let Them All Rot” follows very similar suit as an outright headbanger filled with so much adrenaline. Little changes with Set It Right, which contains some killer shred work, and the title track, “Weight of the False Self” throws in some nostalgic throwback with Jasta’s a cappella shouts in the intro and slow dominating bellows of “Lift the weight of the false self crushing you” in the chorus just oozes prime captivating Hatebreed.

One thing that you don’t expect from Jasta and co is melody. Yet “Cling To Life” experiments a little by adding crooning guitar melodies and fiddly solos to steady hard riffs in the Hatebreed’s closest attempt at a modern heavy metal track. Follow up track, “A Stroke of Red” continues similarly as more of a plodding traditional metal type headbanger, before it explodes into a speedy thrash-like bridge. It’s an interesting twist on the album. While they are decent-sounding tracks, all they do is elevate the other areas that Hatebreed do best. “This I Earned” and “The Heard Will Scatter” are a prime example of where sticking to the usual formula that keeps Hatebreed so consistent. Much like the opener, we are treated to an unapologetic bulldozing approach. Forceful riffage and a relentless frontman unloading his anger.

"Weight of The False Self is a perfect representation of HATEBREED in 2020, a fresh onslaught of soon-to-be classics with all the elements that led you here since day one," explains guitarist Frank Novinec. He is not wrong with that statement. There is no doubt that a majority of this album will be successful in a live setting, with more than a handful with a potential to be fan favourites. The minor experimentation is cool enough, but more of a distraction from what Hatebreed do best, and that is to create absolute bangers. And those bangers that do stand out on the album definitely hold their own against the last couple of albums. This isn’t a band in it’s prime, but they show that passion is still there, and they can still deliver a level of savagery that is hard to beat.

Download: Let Them All Rot, This I Earned, Wings of the Vulture
For The Fans Of: Terror, Madball, First Blood
Listen: Facebook

Release date 27.11.2020
Nuclear Blast Records