Hatesower - Humunperfection
I have absolutely no idea what the hilarious creature on the front cover of Hatesower's latest effort is supposed to be, but what the hell, it's all in the name of metal. Combined with the so-cliche-it-has-to-be-a-joke-but-probably-isn't title of HumUNperfection however, and I'm beginning to realise this release isn't going to be an intellectual rollercoaster ride. Or perhaps it's exactly that, but while the booklet remains devoid of lyrics, that particular mystery will remain unsolved. So now that's all clear, it's time to sit back and enjoy some good honest heavy metal straight out of Southern Europe.
Containing only eight songs and clocking in at a paltry 32 minutes, HumUNperfection is more of a long EP than a full album, although honestly, not much more is required here. With riffs and solos galore, Carcass-style growled vocals and impressive song structures, Hatesower provide a quick yet poisonous bite of straight-up death metal. At times techincal and progressive, at others simple yet effective. Their previous incarnation as Inside was a similar affair, but fortunately this time round they've dropped the cheesy gothic keyboard effects.
Conjuring up the likes of At The Gates, Amon Amarth and Behemoth, their sound may not be as honed as their peers, but it certainly makes for an entertaining ride. The riffs in songs such as The End You Deserve and Fragility are strong yet clinical, which is perhaps where the band lose strength for lack of atmosphere and any real grit. When the riffs are simplified, the closing of opener Pain Of Screaming being a prime example, the nail is well and truly hit on the head. Blood Flows is a mosh-happy face-melter, delivered at break-neck speed. It then attempts to morph into a more progressive beast, and almost succeeds before the bizarre Bubble Bobble-style sound effects ruin it. The sterile production is something usually expected from the more technical metal bands; something that Hatesower incorporate into their songs but only to a certain extent.
Dodgy imagery of imperfect humans and terrible title aside, this is a solid album. Nothing really stands out, but for those moments when you just want to crank up the stereo to eleven and blast out noisy, technical heavy metal, Hatesower are everything you could wish for. With the amalgamation of influences they have, I don't think they really know what they want to become yet. Or perhaps, just being metal is good enough for them. For their first outing under a new moniker and a change of sound, this is Hatesower at their most raw and unconditioned. Their talent is plain to hear, so only time will reveal what they can achieve with it. For now though, HumUNperfection is an enjoyable ride, if a little lacking in direction.