Hatesphere – To The Nines

Recently I heard about the great coming back of Hatesphere with a great new album in their possession, so I had to listen it! I listened to their new album ”To The Nines” a couple of times and I couldn’t make my mind. After 4 or 5 listenings, finally i found some words.

Hatesphere aren’t a newborn band anymore,they have six full releases and two ep’s, so the expectations are set very high for ”To The Nines” album.

Let’s start with the homonymous opening song, a typical thrash rhythm and some aggressive vocals by Jonathan Albrechtsen creates the right condition for the album to start. ”Backstabber” comes next and continues the thrash riffing and rythm,until the middle of the song where you can listen some melodies  walking through, also the vocals are a little bit more “death-y”.

The next three songs, ”Cloaked In shit” ,”Clarity” and ”Even If It Kills Me” are my personal favorites of this release,very strong and powerful riffing combined with some melodies that only Scandinavians can create. And suddenly something happened and the band give us some meaningless songs until the ”Oceans Of Blood” arrives to give us the best closing that we could expect. The CD was recorded at Antfarm Studio in Aarhus, in Denmark with producer Tue Madsen (The haunted, Dark Tranquility, Moonspell), and it seems like Tue Madsen has the golden touch , i’m just talking about the great sound which is a result of Mr. Madsen’s excellent producing.

So the only thing I could answer to someone who asks me if this album is great, is no. Its not a great album, but its not bad too, its just average. As i previously said, Hatesphere are not a new band on this scene, so i have to admit that my expectations were bigger for ”To The Nines”.