Customer Reviews

Sickness Within

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

man i love this band they play with so much aggression that it just makes you want to smash things their new cd takes a few listens to grow on you but damn it's so good this is the future of thrash metal done right by these drinking machines from Denmark

Hatesphere has been around for quite some time now, and while they have their ups and downs, none of their albums are boring or low on melody in any way. Excluding their EPs, The Sickness Within is their fourth studio album and picks up where their previous work left off.

Album starter "White Fever" is chock full of riffs, blood-spitting scream vocals, and a sweet, somewhat bluesy rock solo that really contrasts the otherwise heaviness of the piece, but it fits and even adds depth to it. "Fallen Shall Rise in a River of Blood" is thrashier and also features a nice solo; slow, melodic and very well-written. The calculated riffery and swift chord progressions on "Reaper of Life" prove the band is still capable of throwing us lots of technical riffs a la their 2002 release Bloodred Hatred; while the title track is also among the fastest on the album with powerful drumming laying the foundation of their thrash metal fury. Overall, The Sickness Within isn't as fast and single-mindedly angry as some other bands in the genre. They do inject their songs with stomping bass and guitar drive, and thundering drums, but the music is always balanced out with clever tempo shifts. Check out "Heaven Is Ready to Fall"; lots of bass and awesome riffs abound its first half before the song breaks into a slow yet hauting silent section filled with lots of keyboards and Hammond sounds. Nevermore's Steve Smyth also guests on the album, playing a terrific solo on the last song "Marked by Darkness".

On the production front, the reverb-induced drumming on "Seeds of Shame" adds to the atmosphere of the song. "Murderous Intent" and "The Coming of Chaos" are a bit more on the modern thrash side, as they are infused with plenty of metalcore elements which also come to the fore in the vocal department. The former sees vocalist Jacob Bredahl opting for more hardcore-based singing while the latter does stray back into track in its melodic guitar work and central bass lines. The production carries the typical traits of Jacob Hansen's work. While I admit Hansen is a good producer, I feel his work has become a bit too one-dimensional over the years. On the other hand, I can immediately identify his sound by hearing a single song from any band. So if that was what he was after, he has achieved it. I just happen to prefer rawer production when I listen to death or thrash, with little touches of modern studio effects. This is a minor complaint though, as there are many others who dislike the work of guys like Andy Sneap and Neil Kernon.

This is a good album, but by no means essential. You might want to give it a listen if you enjoyed the newer albums by Exodus and Slayer, since some of the songs such as "Chamber Master" are highlighted by epic scale arrangements and old-school riffery. Also, Hatesphere is recommended to fans of The Haunted, Pantera, and Dew Scented.

This was a much anticipated purchase for me. Combine an incredibly intense, Metal thrash/hardcore band with Metal's best board man (Tue Madsen), producer extrordinaire Jacob Hansen and the result should be audio nuclear destruction. Upon hearing, however, there was a dynamite explosion but megaton it wasn't.

This is good, don't get me wrong, but it falls short of great. Compared to the mastery of their previous CD, Ballet of the Brute, this has to be a disappointment. The energy is there. The musicianship is still tight. But the songs just don't have the depth and intricacy of their last offering.

Tue Madsen's usual mixing magic is a bit muted as well. The first song has so much overpowering percussion that you wonder how your ear drums will take 40 minutes of their drums. Happily, the mix becomes more balanced as the CD moves along.

If you are into Hatesphere, then I recommend purchasing this CD. If you don't have any of their stuff, you'd be better served buying 2004's Ballet of the Brute first.

Hopefully this guys keep up the crunchy thrash tunes as I dig it. Songwriting is better than on previous cds. Their EP is great too. They can get a 5 in my book if they take the songwriting to the next level - get more memorable lyrics/choruses stuck in my head.

Where the hell did this come from, absolute genius. I knew this would be good but jesus christ. Imagine a modern day Slayer cross Machine Head playing with a Swedish sound and heaviness and you get Hatesphere though not as melodic as slayer. Think burn my eyes, Reign in blood, master of puppets and vulgar display of power because this is almost as accessible as those are and who knows in years to come held in the same regard. This is the perfect album every song is cluttered with memorable and devastating riff after riff you just have to grit your teeth and nod your head in sheer admiration, every song chucks along like steam train.
These riffs just drive with some force that make mastodon look like ripples on a pond. This is the only album i heard of their's and will defo be buying the rest.
There is alot of influences here and is nothing really new but if you like all the forementioned and heavy as concrete but catchy as hell metal then you will be just love this. Just can't believe these aren't bigger than they are. They are the new Machine head or Metallica well at least this album is!!

I expected these guy's to be alot faster, i was deeply disapointed when i heard this disc, i mean they play with ton's of Aggression but their speed is not up to par with the anger and hostility on this disc. I do hope that on the next disc it get's faster, over all i like the sound but just need to increase the speed.

I Have nothing more to say that i am proud of being a dane! HateSphere's new "The Sickness Within" is the best danish Thrash Metal album ever made! I Have reviewed the songs.

The White Fever - 10/5 !!!
The Fallen Shall Rise in a River of Blood - 4/5
Reaper of Life - 5/5
The Sickness Within - 4/5
Murderous Intent - 3/5
The Comming of Chaos - 10/5 !!!
Bleed to Death - 5/5
Heaven is Ready to Fall - 10/5 !!!
Seeds of Shame - 5/5
Chamber Master - 4/5
Marked by Darkness - 5/5 - Guest battle-solo: Steve Smith (NEVERMORE)

My fav. songs are "The comming of Chaos" "The White Fever" "Heaven is Ready to Fall" - BUY BUY BUY!!!