HATESPHERE “SMELL OF DEATH”

I can’t claim to be an expert on HateSphere, but based on what I know about the band, they seem to oscillate between groove metal and thrashier stuff. I really like the more groovy stuff (like the single “Drinking with the King of the Dead,” from 2007’s Serpent Smiles and Killer Eyes), but the other stuff doesn’t do much for me. I don’t think it’s bad — I just don’t hear anything to really make it stand out from the pack.

So. The band’s new single, “Smell of Death,” showcases both of the band’s styles. Thus, I am of two minds about it — again, I really, really dig the groove stuff (like the almost-elephants-marching riff under the guitar solo), but I feel pretty meh on the rest. But I know there are some HateSphere fans out there, ’cause y’all e-mail us from time to time. So check out the track below, then let me know if you think I’m being too kind or not kind of enough in our comments section.

“Smell of Death” will be on HateSphere’s new album, The Great Bludgeoning, which comes out September 27 on Napalm Records.

-AR