Hatebreed - The Concrete Confessional
Connecticut metallic hardcore outfit produce predictable but effective seventh album
“If it ain’t broke...” seems to be the motto for Hatebreed, as seven albums along, they stick to the formula fans know well by now. Once again using longtime producer Zeuss, the Connecticut-bred group will surprise no one by filling The Concrete Confessional with straight-forward, metal-tinged hardcore, complete with assertive shouts and crushing guitar-work.
This formula has served them well over their 22-year career, and though you’d expect the momentum to have declined, Hatebreed show once again here that they are still capable of seeming fresh by producing vicious tracks with a visceral energy. Lead-single ‘Looking Down the Barrel of Today’ is pure gratifying fun with an unstoppable force of barraging riffs, whilst tracks like ‘Seven Enemies’ and ‘Remember When’ hold crunching guitars that are as powerful today as they have been for the past two decades. All the key Hatebreed tropes are on full display, from the satisfyingly well-executed breakdowns of ‘Remember When’ and ‘Us Against Us’ to the rallying slogans that comprise much of vocalist Jamey Jasta’s lyrics.
Call it predictable, call it nothing you haven’t heard before, sure, but The Concrete Confessional is also focused, brutal and consistently exhilarating. It’s remarkable that Hatebreed sound as angry and as adrenaline-fuelled as ever, and show no signs of easing up their motivational cries and forceful hardcore assaults. Additionally, though, it’s a remarkable achievement that such an easy to break-down template has born yet another solid release.
7.5/10
