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Rating: Jacob Bredahl (vocals), Peter Lyse Hansen (guitar), Ziggy (guitar), Mikeal Ehlert (bass), Morten Toft Hansen (drums) - these are Hatesphere in 2004, at the time when they released "Ballet of The Brute," the third chapter of their discography. The band was formed in 1998 in Aaruhus, Denmark, discovered by the Italian label Scarlet Records, they are now among the most acclaimed modern metal bands. The musical offering of the quintet is a very aggressive Thrash-Death, composed mainly of palm-muted riffs that provide a hyper-compressed sound characterized by sporadic melodic touches (at times reminiscent of the music of At the Gates) with a sprinkle of metal core. At first glance, they may seem like just another band that can be lumped into the so-called "modern metal cauldron," mainly composed of similar-sounding bands, lacking personality and with plasticized sounds. Hatesphere are "the exception that proves the rule," managing to stand out from the masses, showcasing a well-defined personality and Hardcore attitude.
The album opens with the brief instrumental "The Beginning and the End," which serves as a prelude to "Deathrip," a true killer track—short, fast, and direct. It continues with the more melodic "Vermin," lightly tinged with metal core. Don't relax too much, though, because with "Downward to Nothing," they return to stun us; the track has a great drive, alternating well-constructed up-tempo and mid-tempo parts. There's no room for melodies and refinements here! Only tight and pounding rhythms.
At the halfway point of the album, we find the first mid-tempo track, "Only the Strongest," characterized by Slayer-like riffs, where Jacob Bredahl's voice turns into a deep and full-bodied growl of pure death essence. The track exudes significant aggression and sonic power.
Unfortunately, in the second half of the album, there's a noticeable drop in quality in tracks like "What I See I Despise," which follows worn-out patterns, or the excessively melodic "Last Cut Last Head" and "Blankeyes," which, despite its brutality, can't reach the peaks hit in the first five tracks. Of a whole different caliber are "Warhead" and "500 Dead People." The former is another killer track that brings out the full Hardcore vein of the Danish quintet, which I'm convinced will incite headbanging and sizable mosh pits during live performances. The latter puts the final seal on the album in the best way, a complex piece made up of multiple facets, filled with reprises and rhythm changes that keep the overall level of tension high.
We can't say we're facing a masterpiece, but certainly one of the best examples of contemporary metal. The band's performance is solid, granite-like, and brutal, without neglecting some melody and refinement, thus helping to highlight the decent technical skill these guys possess. I consider Jacob Bredahl's performance to be noteworthy, with his continuous vocal register shifts, alternating death-rooted scream and growl with more shouted hardcore elements, adding variety and personality to a style that often risks fading into anonymity.
The album's short duration (only 36 minutes!) allows "Ballet of the Brute," despite the presence of some filler, to keep the level of attention and adrenaline high until the end.
A good record for some healthy headbanging without too many expectations.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 The Beginning and the End (01:56)
[Music: P. Lyse Hansen / Hatesphere]
[Instrumental]
02 Deathtrip (01:52)
[Music: P. Lyse Hansen / Hatesphere, Lyrics: P. Lyse Hansen / M. Ehlert / J. Bredahl]
Fighting to be released
From the strings attached to me
Intriguing voice invades my head
The dark side speaks to me
Deathtrip
For death I am yearning
Deathtrip
My whole world is burning
I enter the gates to his mind
Let the sickness inside
The rush of power turns me on
Raise the hatchet for the below
Deathtrip
For death I am yearning
Deathtrip
My whole world is burning
This rush of blood
Has turned against me
Pleasure and pain goes hand in hand
The hatchet’s pointing my way
Deathtrip
04 Downward to Nothing (02:57)
Finding the best spot of the curb
The main ambition in life
Cardboard bed bagged and packed
Waiting for better thing to come
No hope can't cope
The lowest step of the ladder
Downward spiral to nothing
The smallest rat in the pack
Loneliness and isolation
Every man for himself...
Destiny is the rulemaker
The friend is a jawbreaker
Being king of the curb
What a rush to inhale
Loneliness and isolation
Every man for himself...
Escaping reality
By swimming noselanes
In the snowy seas of sorrow
Being the centre of the world
Being centre of nothing
No hope can't cope
The lowest step of the ladder
Downward spiral to nothing
The smallest rat in the pack
Becoming the king of the hill
Caused by a twisted mind
No chance of recovery
No future to find
Loneliness and isolation
Every man for himself...
Tomorrow, a new day will come...
08 Warhead (03:55)
[Music: H. Bastrup Jacobsen / P. Lyse Hansen / Hatesphere, Lyrics: A. Gyldenψhr]
Taking aim as I approach
The scenario is set for our world to explode
We’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time
There’ll be no salvation for us
I bet this night will be sublime
My tube of death
Is pointing your way
My warhead is armed
Better beg for mercy today
Beg for mercy!
Fire in the hole!
You scream in despair
Releasing my cluster bombs
From high in the air
Penetrating your defence
I’m spreading my disease
Onto you
The pain I release
My tube of death
Is pointing your way
My warhead is armed
Better beg for mercy today
Beg for mercy!
The wardrums are played
With my stick on your skin
I’m the black hole tailgunner
Coming straight out of hell
Your body is trembling
Going into aftershock
Of all the bitches in the world
You were my best fuck
My tube of death
Is pointing your way
My warhead is armed
Better beg for mercy today
Beg for mercy!
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