ALBUM REVIEW: Weight Of The False Self – Hatebreed

There’s a classic episode of Blackadder The Third where the titular character meets the Duke Of Wellington, not long after Britain’s victory in The Peninsular War. In a memorable exchange, the Duke explains that the key to his success wasn’t tactical ability or inspiring leadership, but shouting. Keep bellowing at enough people and eventually, the day will be won. HATEBREED in their younger days must have thought that was a cunning plan, because good lord, they have done a lot of shouting.

Ever since Satisfaction Is The Death Of Desire first landed in 1997, Jamie Jasta and his heavily tattooed accomplices have hollered their way up festival rosters and achieved a remarkable degree of success. They’ve not really messed with the formula since then, but they have sharpened their song-writing skills and their back catalogue is full of life-affirming anthems. But if you thought they were energetic before, wait until you hear how wound up they’ve got after being stuck indoors and unable to play shows for a year.

Weight Of The False Self is not a record that messes around. Instinctive (Slaughterlust) is about as laidback as a Marine Corps Drill Instructor who just discovered a major malfunction and it’s less than ten seconds before it all kicks off with some thunderous hardcore riffs. It’s a rabid, passionate blast of mosh energy and like the best of their previous work, could inspire nuns to take up cage fighting. Let Them All Rot follows and doesn’t let the adrenaline levels dip; the antagonistic breakdowns and larynx shredding chorus mean this is destined to be a live favourite.

Set It Right (Start With Yourself) then continues their tradition of marrying upbeat messages of self-respect with fist-swinging pit igniters. This and the equally intense title track are utterly pummelling, but they’re also great songs. HATEBREED are unlikely to ever challenge MESHUGGAH or OPETH in the battleground of musical complexity, but their long career has made them masters of the three-minute crowd pleaser.

Weight Of The False Self is also noteworthy because it’s the first HATEBREED record in memory where they keep the momentum going right to the final note. Their previous releases have tended to be front-loaded with their best material but stick on a big red wig and affect a Scottish accent in the combat zone if they haven’t changed that here. Wings Of The Vulture, The Herd Will Scatter, From Gold To Gray and Invoking Dominance are four of the gnarliest cuts these veterans have ever used to round off an album. They close proceedings on a bruising high, all thick bass lines and macho swagger. Lockdown hasn’t dampened their commitment; it’s sharpened it to a razor’s edge.

It’s impressive too that even though HATEBREED have no concept of calming down, they keep your attention fixed for the whole thing. They start at maximum intensity and somehow keep it going right through to the end. Weight Of The False Self is brutally heavy, remarkably optimistic and a bit like having a therapist roar self-improvement tips at you for thirty five minutes. And it’s all down to shouting. Shout, shout and shout again.

Rating: 8/10

Weight Of The False Self is set for release on November 27th via Nuclear Blast Records. 

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