Hatebreed
Satisfaction is the Death of Desire Victory Records

by Matthew Hoffman
Staff Writer

Comments: The first full length album by the Hardcore giants Hatebreed was entitled Satisfaction is the Death of Desire and it just recently celebrated its tenth anniversary. It is considered as the seminal hardcore release of the 1990s.

Hatebreed was formed in Connecticut in the early ‘90s from the remnants of Jasta 14 for the purpose of creating a truly hardcore (punk) band, though many would want to paint them under a metal-core mantle. What was really created though was a dominant (non-sellout) crossover Hardcore band that finally made it OK to have ferocious two-minute songs void of any real structure. Their songs are energetic and packed full of anger and rarely have any lead guitar. This genre has branched out into metal-core, noise-core and grind-core among others and has spawned more than a thousand bands across the globe.

The most important point is that before Hatebreed made Hardcore popular it was not universally cool to like the generic music full of simple aggressive hate-filled breakdowns. The music that had after all ultimately stemmed from the Punk movement that was only embraced by malcontents and losers of their day had become the official music of Generation “Y.” Mosh pits, circle pits and stage diving accompanied every show and when the music was played outside of the club by the fans, there was a good bet that a half dozen skateboarders would be only a few feet away. While young women embraced Goth and became ensconced in everything black, their male counterparts were breaking their bones on a half-pipe, listening to bands like Hatebreed.

For those unfamiliar with the genre they may not understand why would someone like it? Hardcore is an option when you simply don’t want to think about anything, or unwind from the stresses of a hard day. The best byproduct of this genre is that low, middle and upper class teens came together and destroyed each other in a mosh pit, instead of running around committing crimes against society. It was simply the best way to positively release their anger. This may be the opposite of what people imagine about this type of music but it is 100% accurate.

The album is not only a classic important and genre spawning release; it also provides some humor as the liner notes show an underage (19) Jamey Jasta looking more like a 14 year old skater. Jasta has since become the face of Hardcore and one of the top faces of metal in general, making dozens of guest appearances as well as becoming the host of the long running MTV show Headbangers’ Ball. Hatebreed has had numerous line-up changes and challenges (including Lou "Boulder" Richards one of the band's guitarists suicide in September of 2006) but has never wavered and never faltered, just simply charged ahead with brilliance.

The album itself is simply defined as 26 minutes of fury. With the energy of a tornado and the quality power of tuned down guitars and slow breakdowns this album changed metal forever.

Pick up a copy immediately and either reminisce or learn; either way enjoy the massive “early” sound of a dominant metal pioneer.

Band Members:
Jamey Jasta - Vocals
Lou "Boulder" Richards - Guitar
Chris Beattie - Bass guitar
Jamie Pushbutton - Drums
Matt McIntosh - Guitar

Track listing:
Empty Promises
Burn The Lies
Before Dishonor
Puritan
Conceived Through An Act Of Violence
Afflicted Past
Prepare For War
Not One Truth
Betrayed By Life
Mark My Words
Last Breath
Burial For The Living
Worlds Apart
Driven By Sufferingy