Weight of the False Self
sees the Connecticut hardcore enthusiasts eschewing any stylistic maturation and merely playing to their strengths, landing 12 consecutive blows to the face that are as unrelenting as they are rudimentary. Commencing with the pummeling "Instinctive (Slaughterhouse)" -- a two-and-a-half-minute rager that's the audio equivalent of the running of the bulls -- the album is flush with potential crowd-pleasers. To say that
Hatebreed
's commitment to intensity remains intact is an understatement, as gang vocal-studded cuts like the punitive "Let Them All Rot," "Streak of Red," and "Cling to Life," the latter of which manages to sneak in some effective melodic flourishes, are tailor-made for the savage murmurations of a mosh pit. Vocalist
Jamey Jasta
continues to eschew versatility for sheer tenacity. Still, his burly affirmations have always been more motivational than vitriolic, and that adherence to early hardcore punk inclusivity goes a long way in cementing his efficacy as a frontman. The band itself remains a bruising yet finely tuned machine that excels at peppering
Jasta
's galvanizing gymnasium poetry with sonic exclamation points -- late-album standouts "The Herd Will Scatter" and "Invoking Dominance" are particularly potent examples of
's blazing punk-metal muscularity. With eight successful full-length efforts now in the rearview mirror, the band have earned the right to operate on cruise control, albeit at excessive speed.
delivers on its promise of catharsis, so long as the listener is willing to remain in the vehicle for the duration. ~ James Christopher Monger