Artist: Hatebreed
Label: Universal Records
Release Date: 10/28/03
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Title: The Rise of Brutality Artist: Hatebreed Label: Universal Records Release Date: 10/28/03 |
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Abyss's Review:
Ugh. Never been a fan of this band, and what's worse, I've had to see them a million times because Slayer seems to have some sort of fascination with them. It's not that I think they're all that bad, or they're making the music world a worse place, but it just seems like I can't avoid them.
"One word review: Irritating." I guess the biggest problem I have with this band is that I don't like hardcore, and these guys are the most straightforward, generic hardcore there is. At least in my mind, they are the poster children for all I don't like about the genre. Whether it's the generic, yet bouncy, riffs or their overly preachy lyrics, I just can't get by the fact that I can't relate with the whole hardcore philosophy. Not that it's their fault, I just don't relate to philosophy in general. To have a philosophy (or perhaps more accurately, an ideology) means you'll eventually be a hypocrite. Now don't despair, you'll most likely be able to rationalize the hypocrisy, but that's a whole different issue.
It's not that I really want to center on Hatebreed's message, it's just that this band seems to have little beyond its message. The message is the hook and the music is just a delivery mechanism. The songs are structured like propaganda, with clear, concise choruses that use buzzwords and phrases to hammer their message home. Choruses like "If you don't live for something, you'll die for nothing!" or any of another number of motivational catchphrases make me wonder if I'm listening to a hardcore record or got suckered into buying a package from Tony Robbins.
Basically, when you put the message before the music, you will end up alienating those who don't agree with you. I guess that's my problem, because when I try to ignore the preaching, all I hear is generic heavy music separated by a few non-descript, though not completely unpleasant, breakdowns. One word review: Irritating.
Death's Review:
I am a metalhead, and am not really into “hardcore” bands. I like old-school hardcore like C.O.C., D.R.I., Suicidal Tendencies and the Cro-Mags, but these whiny, screamo teens in tight “vintage” t-shirts and gay, stylish hairdos flat out suck as far as I am concerned. Hatebreed harkens back to the old-school, with their riff-heavy, anti-image approach. This is why they are one of the few bands that can actually get away with opening for Slayer. While they aren’t exactly “metal” in the truest sense of the word, they are heavy and they are aggressive. They also bark their empowering lyrics with a sense of ultimate authority. Plus overall, the songs can be pretty catchy. And add to this the fact that over the months I have been watching singer Jamie Jasta host Headbanger’s Ball on MTV2, I have decided that, although soft-spoken and a bit understated, Jasta is pretty cool, and not a poseur, which is more than can be said for previous host Rob Zombie on both counts.
"Hatebreed harkens back to the old-school, with their riff-heavy, anti-image approach." The Rise of Brutality is the third Hatebreed record and their second for Universal Records, coming relatively hot on the heels of 2002’s Perserverence, well-short of the five-year wait between that album and 1997’s Satisfaction is the Death of Desire. Not a lot has changed. Simple, brutal riffs, angry, aggressive drumming and confident barked and shouted vocals with (mostly) positive and empowering lyrics in service of catchy songs. “This is Now,” the single, is the catchiest but many tracks on the record are of a similar vibe. In the end, while it is nothing super-original and once you are familiar with the Hatebreed formula you pretty much know what you are getting from most of the tracks, I like it.
Hatebreed are a certainly guilty pleasure, a sugar-rush of aggression that is low on substance but has a great ability to jack me up and get me ready for a fight. Yes, there is a certain sameness to the Hatebreed approach that is more than apparent on The Rise of Brutality, but I enjoy listening to it in small doses and for what the band is, they do a good job. I’d much rather see these guys getting major label love than most of the other crap out there. If you’ve liked Hatebreed in the past there is no reason you won’t like this too. Not my favorite stuff, but it blows away a lot of the other crap we review. This resonates with me to a certain extent.
Hel's Review:
Before I get started talking about this record, there is one thing you need to know about me. I am not a hardcore fan. Sure, I listened to some of the old school shit back in the day, but none of it really grabbed me even then, and over time, I’ve gotten thoroughly sick of the whole genre. My primary point of contention is the vocal delivery – I just don’t like the style most of the vocalists favor, but I also feel, overall, that most of the guitar riffs are too simplistic for my taste.
"I remain, as I have always been - really bored by Hatebreed." So here I am with the new Hatebreed album in my stereo. The predominant feelings that I have for the genre as a whole apply here as well - what a surprise. Hatebreed adheres to the old school philosophy of hardcore, which is actually slightly preferable to me, as I am able to tolerate the new school of hardcore even less. The lyrical message is disgustingly positive, uplifting even, and most of songs feature a shout-along style chorus. These are the things their fans crave, but fall under the “yawn” category in my book.
Oh the whole though, the reason I don’t really like this album is because the all songs sound too much alike. Sure, if I was a huge fan and this was my thing, I could point out the nine tiny key changes and one solo that differs from song one to song two, etc., but the causal gestalt of every song is identical, and that’s a problem for me. This is not a Hatebreed-specific problem, this is something I always hate – for example, AC/DC has the same problem: many of their songs sound like “Back in Black” in one form or another.
I do have a lot of respect for this band. They have been toughing it out and paying their dues in the underground for a very long time. This lends them credibility and causes me to root for their success, but this does not translate into fan-dom. I remain, as I have always been - really bored by Hatebreed. For what it is, it is a very good album. But what it is, I do not actually like, and for a change, I’m going to swing my score in the direction of how much I like it. The Rise of Brutality is not bad, I just find it really boring. Hear that crack? That was my jaw as I yawned for the zillionth time…
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