Customer Reviews

Perseverance

5 star:		(63)
4 star:		(37)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

It was inevitable that after Hatebreed's indie smash "Satisfaction is the Death of Desire" that they would soon make the jump to a major label. Most of Hatebreed's fans felt that this would see the selling out of the band. Thankfully though, Hatebreed has maintained their integrity, and has released one hell of a wicked major label debut with "Perseverance". Lead singer Jamey Jasta belts out rhythmic screams while the rest of the band carries on a death metal/grindcore-esque rhythm that is very reminiscent of later Slayer material (Slayer guitarist Kerry King offers his guitar talents on the track "Final Prayer"). Those who have never listened to Hatebreed before, and are more suited to listen to schlock rock bands like Linkin Park, Creed, and Limp Bizkit, will find Jasta's voice grating and annoying, but for older metalheads who remember the days of greatness from Slayer, old Sepultura, early Fear Factory, and Pantera will dig it immediately. "I Will Be Heard", "Your Never Alone", "Final Prayer", "Unloved", and "Smash Your Enemies" are great grinding songs that actually have a real meaning behind them and aren't pretend, phony, or religious. All in all, "Perseverance" might not be as good as the indie classic "Satisfaction is the Death of Desire", but this is one of the best metal albums of the year.

Hatebreed's major label debut "Perseverance" brings in a much more polished sound than the band's past releases. J. Jasta's voice is louder than ever, the guitars are cinder block heavy, and the album is not recommeded for those looking for something in the way of "easy-listening." The fact of the matter is that "Perseverance" is one of the most aggressive albums to come from U.S. shores in quite sometime. The band itself derives many influences ranging from hardcore, heavy metal, and thrash genres. The lyrical content of each song deal with a variety of issues ranging from aggression, hatred, loss, and even goes as far as songs of encouragement and inspiration. The shining moments include songs like "I Will Be Heard", "Below the Bottom"(my top pick), "Hollow Ground", "Final Prayer"w/ a guest guitar solo from Slayer's very own Kerry King, and so on. This CD is great for fans of the hardcore genre, Slayer, Pantera, and so on. Depending on how you look at it, "Perseverance" will either make you wanna rock, or it'll just beat you senseless. Judging by the sound Hatebreed has to offer on this album, I see a bright future ahead for these guys, don't be left in the dark. I also recommend the band's 1997 debut "Satisfaction is the Death of Desire."

"Perseverance" is fast, hard, metal, hardcore, and basic. Thrash metal, death metal; whatever you may call it, the first CD for a major label by this group is just as unrepentant as any self-produced metal group ever thought to be.

Hatebreed is beyond the pale for me. I always thought I liked metal (I do), I know I like progressive rock, and I always thought I liked music that challenged the perception of what music can be. However, this music pushes my definition of the envelope so far that the envelope may have popped. After a discussion with the person that loaned me this CD, I realize that this group is likely much better in concert with a nearby mosh pit in which you can express the adrenaline generated by this music. The music is loud, very loud, in fact. The lyrics are yelled, not sung. The riffs are continuous, and the bass is heavy. The sound never lets up from beginning to end.

If you like metal, but your idea of metal is groups like King Crimson, Led Zeppelin and early Black Sabbath, this music may be too far out for you. Certainly it is not for us old guys that thought we were keeping up with the times. I think the times have passed me by. Three stars because the music is good, but the lyrics are not challenging, and the singing style has no variation. I wonder where this group will evolve to?

I'm sorry but Hatebreed just make me wanna reach for my old Black Flag albums and listen to hardcore that was actually hard and thoughtful. If you like monotone screaming accompanied by repetive, harmonically retarded guitar riffs and forgetable drums and bass, this cd is for you. Some of the lyrics aspire to a greater level than a drunken, spoiled frat boy on a date rape binge, which is good and why this album gets 2 stars instead of one. However I get the feeling that most of the singers experiences come from playing too many video games and watching TV news. I like my metal evil, not just brutal and screw the self-help lyrics, I forgave whatever crimes my parents commited against me a long time ago. Very teenage. No art to it and ultimately dull.

To omen666: Hatebreed is hardcore... not death-metal. Your review sounded as ignorant as you. Hatebreed has outstanding riffs and beats with a positive message in almost everyone one of thier songs. I'd be hard-pressed to find a song that I didn't like on this album. If I wanted to listen about death/dying/rotting/body parts falling off... I'd listen to that other crap you mentioned. The point I'm trying to make is, don't try to compare different bands when they're obviously different genres.

Hatebreed has a pretty good sound. They play brutal and hard hitting metal band. Perserverance is their best album (Rise of Brutality was dissapointing). I'd reccomend this album.

Awsome Band, Awsome CD, Awsome Live, Listen to Hatebreed

One of the first things you should notice about Hatebreed's junior release, "Perseverance," is that Jamey's vocals are a lot louder and more violent this time around. His growls are now full-fledged bellows. Add this on top of a skull crushing rhythm section and the result is an album which is easily one of the most unrepentantly heavy metal releases of the new millennium. "Perseverance" is full of steam rolling riffs, stomping drums, and huge breakdowns. But there's a little more to this record than just volume, because some of the songs (like the shout-along chorus on "I Will Be Heard") manage to be kind of catchy, and a few of Jamey's lyrics (i.e. "It's our struggles that define us") are actually rather intelligent and thought provoking. The album storms out of the starting gate with "Proven," which has a pounding rhythm, face-melting guitars, and some of Jamey's heaviest yells. Later on, "You're Never Alone" has a machine gun rhythm; "Unloved" is an explosive scorcher with cannon-like, cascading riffs; "Hollow Ground" and "Remain Nameless" begin with a bit of feedback before segueing into a jackhammer beat; and "Smash Your Enemies" has a blisteringly fast riff and thumping bass drums. The last song worth mentioning is track eleven, "Final Prayer," which features two guest guitar solos by Slayer's own Kerry King. All in all, it may take you a few listens to get completely warmed up to it, but if you like hardcore or super heavy metal, "Perseverance" should make you have wet dreams.

With "Satisfaction is the Death of Desire", Hatebreed held true to its hardcore roots and cradled in its heavy metal secondary. With "Perseverance", all stops have been pulled. The lyrics hit home with much more dignity and depth. The Guitar/Drum work has improved much and have a more sludgy than hardcore appeal. The evolution between these two albums seems to be more of a leaning towards *dare i say for a lack of better words* death-metal approach, creating a bleak atmosphere within the music. Thankfully, Jamey Jasta's lyrics stress sacrifice, diligence, and perseverance for self-improvement. "You think you haven't the will to persist, you have to search within yourself". This album is quite a change from the Satisfaction album, leaving the more wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am songs in the past with the 1997 album. Don't get me wrong, the length of titles on Perseverance are all under 3 1/2 minutes, but the subject matter and content have intensified ten-fold. This is one hell of an album, listen if you dare. I suggest listening to Satisfaction first to gain perspective on the band and see their 5 year transition into a more raw, piercing, and searing album/band in Perseverance

HOLY ...! I'm just finishing my second run through on Hatebreed's new record, and I'm going to have to go and get some tissues pretty soon, because me ears won't stop bleeding. If you want your socks knocked off by the some of the heaviest music around, pick this up. . .and then go and buy it. Don't just stand in the record store with the album in your hand. Now, unlike a lot of other heavy music, and I won't start pointing fingers (cough. . .slipknot. . . sneeze. . mudvayne. . .) this record, and these guys, are able to maintain a sense of dignity. With intelligent and honest lyrics, such as "I have respect, honor and dedication for my family and friends" (Proven), and "We must unlearn the prejudice, we must unlearn the lies," (Hollow Ground), this album manages to rise above the fabricated, thug-oriented, ... music impregnating the metal scene at present(actually, I'd call these guys hardcore, but I think I'm in the minority there.) Of course, don't get the idea that this record is a whining, self-glorifying piece of emo [stuff]. . .oh no. Hatebreed is still [mad], and vocalist Jamie Jasta lets it be known, with a vengeance, with proclamations along the lines of "Every bone in my body will ache 'till I destroy everything you love" (A Call for Blood)and "My empathy has turned to rage. My pity has turned to hatred." (Below the Bottom.) The music itself is great, with some ripping speed metal that at times borders on punk, wonderful, classic hatebreed breakdowns that get out the old aggressions, Mr. Jasta's signature growl/howl (I heard someone call it a bark. . . not the word I'd use, but whatever), and a true artist on the double bass drum backing up the band. All in al this is an amazing hardcore record, so what are you waiting for, go and buy it, [dang it], before they come for you. . .if there's one thing you don't want, it's hatebreed [mad] at you.