Month: November 2026

INSTRUMENTAL SONGS: HATEBREED- UNDIMINISHED

When it comes to hardcore music, one of the most referred to bands is Hatebreed. There is no denying the influence and impact that the band has had over the years. To this day, I still proclaim that Satisfaction Is The Death Of Desire is one of the top ten best hardcore albums of all time.

There’s another era of Hatebreed though that often gets under looked and that would be their self titled era in 2009. That album is an absolute beast of a record and it is chock full of great twists that make it the most eclectic and interesting album. One of the intriguing pasty’s about the album comes on at track twelve, “Undiminished.” After eleven songs that run the gamut of hardcore, metal, thrash, and sludge, out of nowhere comes an instrumental song that gives you a chance to hear how really good the band is. Plus it’s kind of fun to try to put your own spin on the song while listening.

Its tracks like this on heavy albums that give it a different vibe. Don’t get me wrong, I love brutality and heavy but, to be able to do a song like this just shows there’s more to Hatebreed than what’s on the surface.

Only a couple more weeks till Hatebreed’s new album, Fatal Paradox arrives!

Hatebreed- Undiminished:

LIVE SHOW REVIEW: FAILURE AT THE BELASCO

There are a handful of bands that I have on my short list that when they come to play in Los Angeles, I go! These few bands have had a massive impact on my life and there’s a certain feeling that comes from seeing and hearing them live. Failure is one of those bands. Ever since I heard them in the mid/late 90’s I’ve been fully entranced by their music. Fantastic Planet as we all know is an absolute masterpiece but, all their albums are masterful. Seeing Failure live is an otherworldly experience. And on this night on a gloomy October Los Angeles night at The Belasco, Failure transported the entire audience into space.

At lift off Ken Andrews, Greg Edwards and Kellii Scott blasted off their set with “Crash Test Delayed” from their new album, Location Lost. The way this song set the tone for the night was delightful. Then the crowd instantly erupted as the first notes of “Saturday Savior” began and just when you thought it was safe to take a breath, “Sergeant Politeness” caused even more of an explosion. The next part of the set was a treat as “Princess,” “Macaque,” and “Screen Man” made up a trifecta of classic awesomeness. Any chance to hear songs from Comfort is always a great time. The more “raw” and “punk” side of early Failure is quite the listening experience. The song of the night for me was “Counterfeit Sky” from their amazing comeback album, The Heart Is A Monster. It’s one of my all time favorite Failure songs. It’s everything you love about the band in one song. Live this one went into the stratosphere. Then “A Way Down” brought us back to earth and we went for a ride with Failure into a very new wave/post punk treat.

This year is the thirtieth anniversary of Fantastic Planet and of course no Failure set can be complete without a chunk of the album played. The last four songs of their set “Solaris,” “Smoking Umbrellas,” “The Nurse Who Loved Me,” and “Another Space Song” were a lesson in songwriting, sonic exploration and performance. Especially the latter. For their encore, they retuned to the stage with a rousing crowd applause and then hit us all with “Headstand” from their album, Wild Type Droid. Then a giant sing along with ”Stuck On You” filled the Belasco. To end it all was the epic “Heliotropic.”

For eighty minutes during Failure’s set, the world stood still and those of us in the audience were transported to another place. Across sixteen songs there was an excitement from stage to audience that only a Failure show can bring out. It would’ve been great if they played for two hours but, this short but oh so sweet set was incomparable. It didn’t matter if you were a new fan or a long time one, everyone here was just there for one reason and one reason only. share the world of Failure.

Overall Rating: A

By: Brian Lacy

Failure Setlist:

01) Crash Test Delayed
02) Saturday Savior
03) Sergeant Politeness
04) Princess
05) Macaque
06) Screen Man
07) Undone
08) Counterfeit Sky
09) A Way Down
10) Solaris
11) Smoking Umbrellas
12) The Nurse Who Loved Me
13) Another Space Song
ENCORE:
14) Headstand
15) Stuck On You
16) Heliotropic