Live Review: Hatebreed @ Wolverhampton Slade Rooms

Friday 3rd May 2013: Hatebreed, Black Dogs and Demoraliser @ Wolverhampton Slade Rooms

Tonight Connecticut’s finest Hatebreed have travelled overseas to shake the souls of Wolverhampton. Outside the venue metal fans are queued up to the max, drinking, smoking and hustling with the guy on the door to try and blag a ticket to the Slade Room’s sold-out show.

“Wolverhampton wake up!” screams Demoraliser singer James Dexter as fans flood into the venue. The fiery metalcore acts are the first of two support bands from Grimsby to take to the stage. All members nod their heads in time to the beat as they play a variety of epic songs, including the visceral ‘Checkmate’. The band end the blistering set with James running into the crowd creating his own swirling mosh pit. The madness has truly begun.

Next up are Black Dogs who don’t just warm the stage; they burn it down. These guys hold enough energy for the whole audience, with lead singer Gollo storming the stage and climbing amps, whilst the bassist raises his instrument to the audience. The band rip through variety of songs, including their scintillating new one ‘Shame’.

“This one’s as bouncy as f***!” screams Gollo, taking the crowd out on a high with last tune of the night, ‘Hell Hole’. As the boys leave the stage, it’s clear they’re one to watch this year.

As the clock hits ten, it’s finally time for the main event. Wayne, Jamey, Frank, Chris and Matt all step confidently onto the stage breaking straight into ‘In Ashes they Shall Reap’. The room shakes as Hatebreed break into their next song. Their energy is high; their sound is heavy and their timing spot on. This is metal at its finest.

A few songs in and the band decided to get old school, playing classics, such as ‘Perseverance’ and ‘Burial for the Living’.

“Open the f***ing pit!” yells Jamey Jasta, whilst beckoning the crowd like some sort of metal composer.

However, despite their spectacular performance, tonight isn’t just about Hatebreed.

"We were gonna play a song off our new album but, due to certain circumstances, we’ve decided to change our set,” says Jasta, he is of course referring to the terrible loss metal has suffered, with Jeff Hanneman’s sad passing earlier this week. The crowd chant “Slayer” in unison as Hatebreed break into ‘Honor never Dies’. This dedication shows the sense of togetherness in the metal community, which is further emphasised by the band’s cover of ‘Ghosts of War’ earlier on in the show.

“When we started out, they told us we were too hardcore for the metal scene and too metal for the hardcore scene,” Jasta screams at the audience, “but with help from bands like Korn and Slipknot, we got somewhere; it’s about unity,” he emphasises, before breaking into ‘Live For This’.

Hatebreed don’t go off stage for their encore - they don’t need to. As that familiar riff kicks in, the whole room explodes to the rock club classic ‘I Will Be Heard’. And just when everyone thinks it’s all over ‘Destroy Everything’ begins, taking the last of the crowd’s energy and finishing off the night.

As the beads of sweat drip down the faces of fans, only the sound of crunching plastic is left as the cleaners remove the numerous amounts of beer glasses strewn across the floor. Today has brought together metal and hardcore people from all round the West Midlands.

There’s a reason Hatebreed have been around so long. Despite their passionate songs and chaotic shows, they hold a humble attitude towards their fans and other artists’ music. At many other gigs chanting another band’s name would be seen as an insult. These guys don’t care; they’re there for the love of the music. A lesson that many should remember.

Words: Sophie Sparham