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HATESPHERE “Guillotine”
HATESPHERE “Guillotine”
By Dr. Abner Mality
This is album #12 for HATESPHERE, an accomplishment not to be sneezed at. They have been a constant presence in the metal scene for decades, which deserves respect. However, they’ve never broken through to the next level and a listen to “Guillotine” will reveal why.
These Danes play a combo of groove, modern thrash and light death metal which doesn’t lack for heaviness or energy, but rarely comes across as more than average. The groove is the primary part of their style and they sure resemble PANTERA and LAMB OF GOD more than the likes of MORBID ANGEL or CANNIBAL CORPSE. That’s not necessarily bad, but you’ve really got to nail that groovy riff if you want to join that company. On “Guillotine”, I thought “Cleansing” and “Bottom Feeder” showed HATESPHERE getting the job done. The former track really has the power of LAMB OF GOD in full flow while the beginning and ending of the latter track has a fat and chunky sound that gets the ol’ neck active.
A lot of the album kind of goes in one ear and out the other…not bad while you’re listening to it, but not with any memorability that will last. “Dogma”, complete with useless intro, is the epitome of average and “Heresy” seems to drag on way past its expiration date. Other cuts like “Mouth Full Of Barbed Wire” are not too bad and easy to take. It would help if the mix here was not so soulless and if the bellowing vocals didn’t sound like a million other guys.
HATESPHERE marches on and I wish them the absolute best. If you’ve been a fan of past work, “Guillotine” will work for you. I’m dead certain this record will get them no further than any other in their catalog.
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