ag•gres•sion ( -gr sh n) 1. The act of initiating hostilities or invasion. 2. The practice or habit of launching attacks. 3. Hostile or destructive behavior or actions 4. Music from a band called Hatebreed.



Live for this. Hatebreed returns within a year with another brutal masterpiece called The Rise Of Brutality. The cd begins where Perserverance ended. Literally. The first song is build around the riff from the last song of Perserverance.

This cd is another mortar grenade explosion of agression. The drummer, the bassist, the guitarist and singer Jamey, are all sounding mad. They bring their music raw and honest, yet with a perfect production. The changes that are made are stillistic. Like in “Live For This”, which has sort of an unusual chorus. “Beholder Of Justice” is almost pure metal. The same also goes for “Doomsayer” which is an unbelievable brutal track with a superb breakdown at the end.

But why should they change their sound? I mean, they already sold around 400.000 cd’s, which is huge for a hardcore band. So why would they change their formula?

There is a lot of critisism on this band, which I sometimes understand. The lyrics are cliché, that may be true, but he still sings his lyrics with a lot of confidence, and I don’t think that he is faking the shizzle. Let’s be honest: They haven’t invented the wheel, but they’re just uncredible good at what they do; making powerful back-to-basic agressive hardcore. They do not need strange rhythms, female vocals or green mohawks. Just being themselves is enough.

In a nutshell then: Hatebreed. Back with another album. Masterpiece. Best songs: “Doomsayer”, “Tear It Down”, “Facing What Consumes You”, “Choose Or Be Chosen”. Agression factor: 12+. See you upfront.