Love it or hate it, the media are currently all over this thrash resurgence like a bad rash and as with any style of music, the tricky part is becoming the task of picking out the wheat amidst the chaff; for every Gama Bomb there are ten who have seemingly jumped on the bandwagon after discovering said band that very morning, probably in the latest issue of Kerrang! Initially there was a modicum of excitement lingering in the air, as bands were replicating the 80’s sound, although with the genre becoming increasingly saturated, to simply imitate is no longer going to cut it.
Now, Hatred are no new kids on the block; they’ve built themselves up the good old fashioned way and while their name rings no bells for me, a swift scan on their biography informs me that this is their second full length album which arrives four years after the last. They are inspired by good old fashioned bands and their influences are sewn firmly onto the sleeves of their leather jackets, although such a leather jacket is likely to be a shiny new one that still remains un-creased as opposed to a tattered, worn in one that is losing it’s colour in a few places. The sound of the Bay Area shimmers through in their sound, with the most glaring point of reference being Chuck Billy & co. The title track ‘Madhouse Symphonies’ contains a robust early Testament vibe that has me reaching for Practise What You Preach, while if the riff on ‘Schizophrenia’ was any closer in similarity to Reign In Blood then I’d be watching out for news on a law suit.
While this lifts much of its inspiration from the Bay Area sound, it’s also beefed up with some power metal nuances. The clean guitar sound given to some of the intro passages such as on ‘Gates Of Hell’ radiate a certain warmth that provides an atmospheric aura that to be quite honest, has me mentally pencilling a line across to the latest Judas Priest opus, while ‘Walk Through Fire’ reminds me more of one of Primal Fears balladic numbers. The album closes with a fast and frenetic attack in the form of ‘Mosh Room’ which literally is an aural equivalent to being caught in the middle of a mosh pit, and upon first listen, one had to chortle as I bewilderedly reached for the booklet seeking reassurance that I wasn’t actually hearing the words “We are the mushroom”. This antagonising number brings to light the blunt, hardcore edge that scuffles along on the album adding a Municipal Waste style affliction in sporadic openings.
There is a vibrant energy that emanates through the nitid production that gives off a very modern and up to date feel, although that doesn’t hamper it’s ability to charm the old school-ers. To coin a much overused phrase, this does exactly what it says on the tin; thirteen tracks that will make you want to bang your head profusely, with just enough variety to save the ennui from arising. It doesn’t break through any boundaries, nor is this the most exceptional release the “new school” has to offer, although it is a solid album and one I definitely recommend to any thrash metal aficionado.
http://www.hatred.de
