A part of the wave of Thrash infused Death Metal acts to come out of Europe in the early 2000s, Hatesphere is one name many remember. Sitting alongside Sweden’s elite on the scene (The Haunted, Darkane, and Carnal Forge), the difference is that Hatesphere is Danish.
Blazing their own path, they put out their self-titled debut in 2001, and have spent little time off since. In fact, through 2018’s Reduced to Flesh, they would average a new studio album every three years for seventeen years. Impressive and consistent, now in 2023 they return with their latest album Hatred Reborn.
Their eleventh album, it is their first in five years. Breaking their former streak of albums, now that some changes have been made internally, there is no doubt they are looking to start a new one. A new chapter for the band, Hatred Reborn is the first to feature new Vocalist Mathias Rønde Uldall-Jessen. Their fourth vocalist since they began, some may say the revolving door at this position could make for some inconsistency. However, founding Guitarist Peter Lyse Hansen has done a fine job of keeping the Hatesphere’s lineup tight amidst the moving parts. That said, he, Uldall-Jessen, along with Mike Park Nielsen (drums), Jimmy Nedergaard (bass), and Kasper Kirkegaard (guitar) deliver a pretty strong album this time around.
Released on March 24th through Scarlet Records (a label Hatesphere has a long history with), Hatred Reborn offers ten new songs, a cover of Scorpions’ 1979 track “Another Piece of Meat,” along with a bonus live recording of their 2015 cut “The Sickness Within.” Recording, mixed, and mastered by Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio, the longer gap of time in-between new material for Hatesphere seems to have done them good.
This stated, the songs of Hatred Reborn seem quite inspired. This is not to say prior material from the band in recent years was not, but this time around the guitar riffs seem more melodic, but also heavily intent with a groove.
Matching this, Uldall-Jessen’s delivery is right-on and fitting for the tone of this record. Reminiscent of Soilwork’s Björn “Speed” Strid unclean style, in truth, if you listen to Hatred Reborn it very much sounds and feels like a classic Melodic Thrash Death Metal album from the early 2000s. Prime examples of this include the title-track, “Cutthroat,” “The Truest Form of Pain,” and “Brand of Sacrifice.”
All blistering fast with classic Thrash guitars, there is a lot of strong material all around Hatred Reborn. Overall, Fans of Hatesphere will not be disappointed with the band’s return. And if you have heard of Hatesphere, yet never took the time to check them out, if you like acts like Soilwork, At the Gates, or early Darkane, you will love this. Furthermore, if you are in Europe, the band will be embarking on Soundtrack of Hatred Tour in February of 2024. Worth checking out this tour, Hatred Reborn is direct and honed in, thus Cryptic Rock gives it 4 out of 5 stars.
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