It seems that a modernized form of Thrash has dethroned Death Metal for good in Sweden. The bands playing this kind of music are now countless, and among them HATESPHERE. Well, I can’t say I am very impressed by this release (their second to date) simply because I am not a fan of Neo-Thrash in the first place, even if I can admit that the album is interesting. The main problem is that the compositions are simply not there, impossible to distinguish one song from another. “Bloodred Hatred” (a pretty banal title if you ask me) is simply a collections of good riffs and nothing else I am afraid. It is not to say that some songs don’t have their moments, the second half of the album comes out actually better than the first, especially tracks like ‘Plague’, ‘Deeper And Deeper’ and ‘Kicking Ahead’. Obviously this five piece has a concern in crafting quality music, but while hearing this album, you know for sure you are not listening to a classic by any means. The HATESPHERE musicians are very skilled indeed, the whole band playing tight like a well-oiled machine, enough to provide solace for a moment, but that ‘s all. To me the future of Thrash has to be found on such masterpieces as DEW-SCENTED “Inwards” or the last NO RETURN offering and certainly not here. The sound quality on offer cannot be blamed as the production courtesy of Tommy Hansen appears faultless as usual. And some good ideas, like a nice use of various keyboards (from Hammond organ to modern synth), can be detected on some of the tracks. Well, maybe I don’t do justice to this album after all, but I repeat myself, to me the composing skills are a top priority to review a musical work and I don’t find them too much on display here. The problem is that more and more bands deliver this kind of music now (CARNAL FORGE, TERROR 2000, DARKANE, THE CROWN, ARCH ENEMY and many, many others) and this scene begins to saturate itself pretty quick, even if I reckon that HATESPHERE are way better than a lot of their fellow countrymen and a lot more thrashier for sure, in the vein of THE HAUNTED. In closing, check this by yourselves, except if you are convinced by my arguments already and see what they do mean. Sorry if I can’t recommend “Bloodred Hatred” myself because it is a good album, neat and clean, but nothing much more.