Review: “Guillotine” by HateSphere

Produced, mixed and mastered by the legendary Tue Madsen (Heaven Shall Burn, The Haunted, Dark Tranquillity) at Antfarm Studio, “Guillotine” is the twelfth studio album from Danish Death Thrash Kings HateSphere in a career that began in 2001 with their self titled album. There have of course been line up changes all along the way and this album finds guitarist Peter Lyse Karmark (Dark Tranquillity) their longest serving member and his opposite six stringer Franz Aleksander Posch their freshest recruit. He’s known for his riffs in Melodic Death Metal force Livløs with the rest of the band the line up that brought us 2023’s impressive “Hatred Reborn“, namely drummer Mike Park Nielsen (Illdisposed), bassist Jimmy Nedergaard and vocalist Mathias Uldall (Royal Deceit). While its not described as a concept album there are a number of overarching themes linking the songs of “Guillotine“, which paints a portrait of the eternal struggle between human nature and societal constructs, posing two questions – who will be the first to break: man or society? In the end what will be the consequence?

The thirty nine minute affair begins with swirling sombre melodies as instrumental “Chapter XII” takes shape, the sound evolving into Melodic Death Metal as it plays out. It serves as something of a palate cleanser for the mind, preparing you for the racing Melodic Death Thrash guitars and harsh vocals of “Dogma” which a solid, punchy cut that has all the electrifying energy you’d expect as well as plenty of wrathful lyrics. A tale of Gods and Monsters it’s the perfect tone setter for the albums themes before heavy staccato riff breaks introduce the title track “Guillotine“. Evolving the early menace into something sinister, the medieval depiction made oh so real by Uldall’s vocal performance and some passages of groove heavy guitars. Another powerhouse performance this one very much feels like HateSphere at their peak raising a middle finger to the naysayers who suggested they might mellow out by delivering something up there with their heavier offerings.

“Morbid” continues the flow of the river of blood with a savage opening salvo that then slows to build atmosphere as Uldall switches between his usual harsh barks and some brutal death growls. A whirlwind of percussive battery from Nielsen and abrasive riffs from Karmark and Posch feel like an old school sandblasting for the skin as the band spit venom, a couple of clever tempo shifts keeping you on your toes. “Cleansing” almost feels like a conjoined twin requiring surgery to be separated from its predecessor and that’s by no means a bad thing as the energy and aggression levels are maintained for another vitriolic anthem. If the title didn’t give it away, HateSphere are calling for cleansing like The Purge in order to rid humanity of the scum that you might find in the darkest corners of this earth. A barnstorming tune that has all the elements that have made this band great over the past twenty five years, it’s one to savour.

Some might have split the eerie guitars that introduce “Snake Charmer” off as a separate tune but in truth there is absolutely no need. That introduction acts as a moment of calm before a sonic storm as the Thrash riffs wage war on the cranium demanding headbanging as a bare minimum in response. The twin axe attack flows from syncopated riffs into a lead and rhythm split in true Melodic Death Metal style, the verve and swagger of the record let alone this song confirming that HateSphere are masters at work. They have the utmost confidence in their material and it shows in the performances, each of which are well and truly nailed. While HateSphere came first there is an air of bands like Devildriver about “Mouth Filled With Barbed Wire” as the quintet inject some sober and sombre melodies into the gaps between groove laden moments, the chant of “no crown, no god, no halo!” being one that is going to be heard up and down the land when this one gets played live.

There is a distinctive Pantera like stomp to “Bottom Feeder” which has an ocean of neck snapping groove to it as Uldall once again brings in yet more death growled moments. The racing drums in the Death Metal assault of the mid section work very well before a clever almost false ending returns us to the satisfying crunch of those early grooves one last time. A master class from finish, it confirms the fires of hatred still burn in the eyes of HateSphere. “Human Scum” continues the lyrical narrative with an injection of Melodic Death Metal, the galloping drums and slick lead licks combining nicely while sending us all the way back to the start of the Gothenburg scene with a bit of nostalgia. That sets up grand finale “Heresy” perfectly as harsh vocals are spat over rich dark melody before the staccato Death Metal riffs begin to rip and tear between the choruses. It almost feels like each pre-chorus gets intentionally a shade heavier. The surprise is just how long this one lingers in the mind once it finishes because the band never waiver from their intent. All killer no filler might be a cliche but here it rings true [9/10]

Track Listing

1. Chapter XII
2. Dogma
3. Guillotine
4. Morbid
5. Cleansing
6. Snake Charmer
7. Mouth Filled With Barbed Wire
8. Bottom Feeder
9. Human Scum
10. Heresy

“Guillotine” by HateSphere is out 9th October 2026 via Scarlet Records