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Hatesphere are a Danish thrash metal band – and another one of those thrash acts that should just stick to clean vocals because growling vox (the lowest form of singing known to man – thankyou, thankyou) just isn't their thing. This album could have been so much better if the vocalist just went to the doctor and got rid of that squirrel that evidently got stuck and died in his throat. Shit…they don't really even sound like growls, they sound something like the man is trying to growl but he has a sore throat and just couldn't find a halls pill anywhere. He's got that whole 'teen rebel' type of thing going on – something very common in those silly nu-metal/hardcore acts that try to act all demented.

Anyway…if you can look past the vocals, this disc has really good music pressed in it. These guys are so pissed off and angry that I am actually a little scared that I criticized the vocalist above. This is thrash metal of the extreme variety, more reminding of the German thrashers and early Swedish death metallers such as Grave or Unleashed - somewhat. (Another similar band, albeit with better vocals is Deathchain from Finland). Musically it is fast and is definitely head-banging material. The reason this disc gets a good rating from me is because the vocals are not there all the time to detract from the music. Sometimes they are tolerable, and other times (when they are non-existent) the guitars and drums are just there to take you away and deliver an ass kicking you always craved from any extreme act.

Anyway, there are people who like this album a lot, and seem to enjoy vocals like this too. If you are one of them, who enjoys the sound of a man struggling to breath and sing, then you will love this. If you are a normal human being with a normal taste and appreciation of thrash metal, you will find nuisance and brilliance in this album.

The verdict:

Vocals – Bad.

Music – Good.

The choice is yours.