This came out in 2002 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Too many metal bands are obsessed with being “extreme” — the fastest, the slowest, the most complex, the goriest, and so on. Then you’ve got New Haven, Conn., quintet Hatebreed.
Their only goal seems to be writing good songs. Smart move. By ignoring contrived stances and passing fads, these boys have arrived at a timeless, back-to-basics stance that is both accessible and individual. On their aptly titled third album Perseverance, they wield it with skill and flair on bruising, solidly built metal and hardcore assaults like You’re Never Alone, Bloodsoaked Memories and Smash Your Enemies. Powered by hammering midtempo grooves, driven by buzzsaw guitars and fuelled Jamey Jasta’s scorching vocals, these 16 short, sharp shots are the work of dudes that know what they want to do and exactly how they want to do it. These days, that kind of nerve is extreme enough.
