Album Review: Hatebreed - The Divinity Of Purpose

If legacies are indeed forged through consistency, as the press release touts, then Hatebreed should be bona fide legends by now. Frontman Jamey Jasta, the bellowing Tony Robbins of heavy music, claiming this album would be “all pit, no shit” had devotees of the US metallic hardcore crew thumping their collective chests in anticipation.

Like previous records, said diehards will select several new blood-splattered anthems to cling to and eventually discard the rest. Jasta and company don't just stick to their guns stylistically – you'd have to prise said proverbial weapons out of their cold, dead hands. Divinity… is strictly formula, but a hard-hitting, pretension-free mélange of thrash riffs, beatdowns, lyrics about standing up for yourself and 20-minute prog-rock epics. Okay, one of those was a fib. Tunes likely to have long-lasting appeal include the bludgeoning Put It To The Torch, which continues their tradition of ball-tearing openers. Those riffs dispense punishment like Judge Judy after blasting the Slayer and Cro-Mags catalogues. Own Your World's ham-fisted call-and-response is tailor-made for live interaction; Before the Fight Ends You is as subtle as a sledgehammer to the cranium and will inevitably be an MMA competitor's theme song. Dead Man Breathing is a more mid-paced, groove-laden stomper; Time To Murder It seethes with intent and Honor Never Dies boasts a steamrolling main riff certain to have mosh warriors unleashing the fury.

There are several by-the-numbers cuts, but that's par for the course; cries of creative redundancy are missing the point. There isn't any “shit” though – and plenty of pit activity will ensue – so again Hatebreed live up to their word.