German metallic hardcore veterans HATE SQUAD are set to unleash their latest full-length, Katharsis, onto the masses in North America via Massacre Records this January 17th. Since their 1993 debut, the band has established a fearsome live show and the intensity is still fully alive and well in 2012. Kicking off with the effective Spaghetti Western-sounding opening acoustic instrumental track “Deep Scars”, I could sense I was in for a thorough sonic beat down. Was I disappointed? Well, song two is the album’s title track and lays the groundwork for its ‘get the new year started fast’ type of urgency… so let’s just say it is in one word: PUNISHING. Recorded and mixed by Ralf Müller at Rape of Harmonies Studios, produced by Müller and HATE SQUAD, and mastered by Olman Viper at Hertzwerk (Hamburg), this record is as explosive as anything they have done in the past… blending elements of thrash, death metal and hardcore better than most around them. The other tracks that I enjoyed out of the collection of cuts are “Your Rotten Life” and “Hatebomb”. Burkhard Schmitt on vocals is as vicious as it comes. Mark Künnemann on guitar nails down the metal gallop perfectly. This album proves why HATE SQUAD remain one of Germany’s hottest metal exports.
ROCKET REVIEW:
[starreview tpl=16]
HATE SQUAD – “Katharsis” (CD)
(Massacre Records/2012)
1. Deep Scars
2. Katharsis
3. Your Rotten Life
4. The One
5. Hatebomb
6. A.P.A.B.
7. Misanthropic Soul
8. Vicious Assault
9. Old Times…Good Times!
10. Kill
11. R3volut1on15t
12. Face Your Demon
13. Live And Learn
http://www.myspace.com/hatesquad
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