Holy shit... this is awesome. It's not really unexpected per se, it's still Hatebreed through and through, but once more the songs are a bit more diverse than in the past, and this is their best record yet if you ask me. The songs are still short but sweet, few topping three minutes, and the record barely runs more than a half-hour, but the writing has both the band's most metallic and their most hardcore elements to date in a sense. From the ripping speed of "Straight to Your Face"; to the more moderately paced and hardcore structured "Live for This", complete with classic gang backup shouts; or the vicious breakdowns of the more metal based "Beholder of Justice" and "Voice of Contention". And "Another Day, Another Vendetta", probably the most memorable song herein, even borrows some of its lyrics from Sick of it All's classic "Just Look Around", which is actually an awesome touch. The production is fucking awesome, very much like the last record but just barely more balanced as far as adding texture to the guitars and drums, thus keeping things ridiculously heavy and clean, but not at all muddy. Everything sounds like a million bucks, with the rigidity of some of the drums being the only minor "fault" that I might cite - but it makes little difference because everything else sounds perfect and the mix evens the instruments and vocals out just fine. This is probably the best guitar sound I've ever heard for this style of basic, metallic hardcore... even the palm-muting has a little thick sustain to it. The layout is mostly black and white with collaged images that sort of give off the theme of the album title, and inside are all of the lyrics (plus a few brief song explanations) and some enormous thanks lists. The lyrics cover basically the same themes the band usually deals with, perhaps in a slightly more involved manner that can be at times both more sincere and more pissed off. "In this very moment, agony exists, unbeknownst to an unforgiving force. Some pray, some beg, without consolation. The pure lie beneath us while the scum walk the earth. Why can't we heal them? Why can't we see them? Can we keep hoping, no one knows for sure. Blamelessly renouncing, guilt has no bearing, I must believe that there is a better way..." I've heard a good number of complaints thrown in Hatebreed's direction ever since they signed to a major, but I think this record definitely proves that all of that talk is a bunch of bullshit. This is a killer record, the band is doing the same thing they've always done (only better)... plus they're using their position to help a shitload of other bands out - which is definitely the way to go. Don't write this one off until you've heard it for yourself.
[Universal]
Running time - 31:57, Tracks: 12
[Notable tracks: Straight to Your Face, Another Day, Another Vendetta, Beholder of Justice, Voice of Contention]
Hatebreed - http://www.hatebreed.com
