HATESPHERE mine the territory of “hateful” hardcore (HATEBREED) and SLAYER-like speed metal. Along with big riffs and obligatory tough-guy hardcore vocals, we get occasional death metal grunts on these 4 cuts. Although this is hardly original music, it is played extremely well. The dual guitar assault is as good as it gets technically and the drums are completely balls-out (can’t tell if it’s more Bostoff or Lombardo – decide for yourself). One of the more unfortunate of the SLAYER similarities (and, in my book, on way too many metal albums in general) is that the bass guitar is completely buried. This still seems to be a metal epidemic that clearly still happens as often now (just ask NILE) as it did back in the day. It should have ended with METALLICA’s “And Justice for All” but some of these bands still fuck it up to this day (at least the bad 80s drums are all but gone). Likewise, HATESPHERE still get props in the metal militia for an overwhelming amount of killer riffs, tightness and energy to boot. Their sound bodes well for the EP length (definitely leaves the listener wanting more) and I would like to see if a full-length release could hold my attention all the way through. Seeing them live would be a good test of their strength as well. So far looking good, guys

- Herring

OFFICIAL SITE: www.hatesphere.com

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