HATESPHERE - Guillotine

'Chapter XII' opens the album with the sound of howling wind, soon joined by clean guitar lines before a stronger second guitar adds further depth. The melody flows seamlessly into a distorted riff and commanding drumming, gradually replacing the initial calm with something far more imposing. Entirely instrumental, the track never feels as though it is simply waiting for vocals to arrive. Instead, the rhythm section and layered guitars create enough emotion and tension on their own, making 'Chapter XII' feel like the deliberate opening of a new chapter rather than just an introduction.

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The real attack begins with 'Dogma', where a rapid-fire riff and deafening drums slap you straight in the face. Any trace of the opener’s calm is immediately gone. Harsh screams tear across the track with darker growls underneath, while a subtle bass line adds weight beneath the raspy, almost spat-out vocal delivery. As the song progresses, the anger intensifies in both instrumentation and vocals until everything culminates in sharp staccato riffs, wild cymbal-driven drumming and a furious solo. From there, perfectly intertwined dual-guitar lines take over, bringing this relentless first assault to a seriously satisfying conclusion.

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The title track 'Guillotine' comes down exactly like its namesake: sharp, fast and without mercy. A hard, stomping riff drives the track forward, while threatening vocals make it immediately clear that there will be little room to breathe. I am a sucker for good dual-guitar work, and here it adds both atmosphere and depth, with an urgent melodic undertone cutting through the aggression without taking away its bite. Around the midpoint, the vocals become even more sinister and the pace picks up further, yet HATESPHERE never sacrifice that infectious, grooving stomp underneath. Fast, vicious and still impossible not to move your head to.

'Snake Charmer' returns to a more ominous opening, with mysterious, foreboding sounds and a simple yet unsettling riff accompanied by angry growls lurking in the background. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a hard-hitting, galloping thrash riff comes crashing down, backed by crushing drums that immediately transform the atmosphere. The vocal delivery continues to be one of the album’s strengths: intense, engaging and sounding completely unhinged. This is also a track I would love to experience live. That combination of galloping rhythm, relentless energy and sheer aggression feels built for violent mosh pits while simultaneously making you want to raise your fist and charge straight into battle.

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'Bottom Feeder' builds itself around a meaty, groove-heavy riff that immediately gives the track enormous weight. The furious growls hit with an intensity you can almost feel travelling through your entire body, while the screams are every bit as vicious. Beneath them, thunderous drums and a thick bass passage create a crushing foundation for some seriously skilled guitar work. There is nothing subtle about the effect: 'Bottom Feeder' feels heavy, evil and absolutely furious, turning its groove into something almost physical. 'Heresy' closes both the album and our time with HATESPHERE, bringing together many of the qualities that have defined "Guillotine". 

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Between the aggressive riffs and relentless instrumentation, subtle melodic elements add detail without dulling the track’s edge. More importantly, 'Heresy' showcases the individual strength of the band: devastating vocals, roaring drums that lead the charge with ease, a suffocating bass line adding depth and guitars capable of telling their own story even when the vocals disappear. During its final third, the track sinks deeper into darkness, weight and emotional struggle, leaving us with one last heavy blow before the blade finally falls.

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"Guillotine" is an album that hits hard and rarely loosens its grip. HATESPHERE combines vicious thrash-death aggression, crushing grooves and devastating vocals with enough melody and darker atmosphere to give the record depth beyond its sheer physical force. Strong musicianship keeps even the most furious moments controlled, while the dual-guitar work and relentless rhythm section repeatedly stand out. Heavy, angry and built to move bodies, "Guillotine" proves that after twelve albums, HATESPHERE can still make the blade fall with force. 

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SCORE 9/10

REVIEWED BY SWAMPY

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