Randy J. Klodz - Hatebreed: The Hardocore Heavyweights Return to Chicago

Jan. 6, 2005

Hatebreed: The Hardocore Heavyweights Return to Chicago

By Randy J. Klodz

It’s six or seven months before what is quickly becoming Hatebreed’s annual tradition of playing the OZZfest tour--although the band is not confirmed for this year’s installment--but Hatebreed will return to Chicago when the “Heavyweights of Hardcore 2” tour hits Chicago on Jan. 7 at House of Blues.

Hatebreed--Jamey Jasta (vocals), Sean Martin (guitar), Chris Beattie (bass) and Matt Byrne (drums)--has garnered success across the world with its aggressive style of heavy rock. The band’s rampant, though mostly underground, roots earned the band a coveted spot on the OZZfest tour, and the band has quickly become respected second-stage veterans. Hatebreed co-headlined the OZZfest 2004 tour’s second stage with Iowa-based 9-piece Slipknot, a slot that is sure to gain the band an even larger fan base.

The band’s singer, Jamey Jasta, has also hosted MTV’s recent reincarnation of “Headbanger’s Ball,” a show that typically features music videos of only heavy rock and metal acts, acts that typically don’t get spins on MTV’s regular programming. Jasta also appears during this season’s “Battle for OZZfest” show when the show’s crew rolls through the Albuquerque, N.M. stop on last year’s tour. In the episode, Jasta reminded the show’s cast, a group of mostly twenty-somethings vying for a spot a second-stage slot on OZZfest 2005, that bands like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, among others, paved the way for all up-and-coming heavy rock acts, including his band Hatebreed.

Released in October of 2003, “Rise of Brutality,” the band’s most recent work, clocks in as one of the hardest hitting 30-minutes of heavy rock imaginable, with slashing guitars and Jasta’s brash lyrics. Hatebreed’s in-your-face style of music may shake the timid, but Jasta’s lyrics are often intelligent, poignant and inspirational. Such is the case with “This Is Now” and the lyrics: “But this is now / How can I can change tomorrow if I can’t change today / This is now / If I control myself I control my destiny.” Other tracks such as “Facing What Consumes You,” “Choose or Be Chosen” and “Another Day, Another Vendetta” are sure to be crowd favorites.

House of Blues is at 329 N. Dearborn St. Tickets for this all-ages show are listed for $15 each, with show time scheduled for 6:30 p.m. For more information on Hatebreed log on to www.hatebreed.com.