Hatebreed
For the Lions
E1 Entertainment
8/10
I’ve always had a soft spot for cover songs. I love seeing how the same lyrics and chord structure can be interpreted so radically by different bands. I admit, however, that I was surprised to see a cover album by the br00tal guys of Hatebreed. Calling it For The Lions, Hatebreed pay tribute to influences ranging from old school hardcore (Madball’s “Set It Off” and Judge’s “Hear Me”) to punk legends (Black Flag’s “Thirsty and Miserable” & Misfits’ “Hatebreeder”) to modern metal (Sepultura’s “Refuse/Resist”).
The best part is that they do them in a way that makes it plain to see that each song speaks to the band personally. It’s not meant to be ironic like the Punk Goes… series, or goofy like Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. It’s meant to be a tribute album that grabs you by the dick and leads you directly to the forefathers that gave birth to heavier sounds. If you love the Cookie Monster vocals and chugga chugga guitars, go pick this up and see their evolution unfold.
-Jonathan Yost