The Danish combo HateSphere is now ready with their new EP ”The Killing EP” which also marks their first release on their new label SPV. The band is lead by the charismatic frontman and screamer Jacob Bredahl, a man with many coals in the fire. But he seems to deliver 110% every time he releases something new with his bands.

This EP is more straight ahead thrash than their latest full length album “Ballet Of The Brute”, where they leaned a bit towards death metal. This time, as written, we are treated a full blown thrash attack, with some good old tendencies towards crossover, as heard from the American scene in the late 80ties and early 90ties. Brutal and catchy thrash riffs, with a hard metallic hardcore edge and the always aggressive scream on top.

The guitar work on this piece of anger inducing plastic is really good. Very catchy main riffs, thrashy as fuck with some classic elements, without being a complete rip off. The leads are throat ripping and displays power and accuracy. There are added a few of modern melodic elements, but it is incorporated well in the songs and do not get too much.

The drums pound dry and hard hitting, an aggressive snare drum and toms and bass drums with a good drive and power. The drums are placed well in the mix, usually on their usual place, but once in a while they get a bit more in front of the sound and gets really aggressive. The overall sound is good and has a great drive to it. It pushes the music forward and forces the head that doesn’t bang to bang.

This is a small appetizer to HateSphere’s coming full length, which will be released in the fall according to their plans. If the album will keep the pace, energy and development from this EP, it will for sure slay. The 4 tracks on “The Killing EP” display a band on its way to conquer the world. Full force ahead and no prisoners, this is thrash spiced up with heaviness and complexity from death metal, the vibe and directness from hardcore and a bit of melody from more modern genres, and that makes a hard hitting package. The cover version of Suicidal Tendencies’ ‘Trip At The Brain’ is great and entertaining too. Even though this is an EP, does it leave the listener full and devastated after a listen, due to the high amounts of energy and overkill of thrashing madness.

[This review was first published on the now defunct scandinavianmetal.info webzine]

Distributed in Denmark and kindly suplied by Target