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21 Best Metal Albums of the 21st Century... So Far

#17: HATEBREED – PERSEVERANCE

Friday, June 12th, 2009 at 5:00pm by

SPECIAL GUEST BLOGGER AMY SCIARRETTO OF ROADRUNNER RECORDS AND NOISECREEP

21best1

perseverance

We recently polled a wide array of musicians, managers, publicists, label reps, and writers from within the world of metal to find out what they thought the 21 Best Metal Albums of the 21st Century So Far have been. Eligible albums were released between January 1, 2000 and  April 1, 2009. Each panelist turned in a ballot, with their #1 album worth 21 points, their #2 album worth 20 points, and so on and so forth. The ballots are now in and we’ll be counting down one album a day until we reach #1. Today we present the #17 album, coming in with a total of 113 points…

Hatebreed, Perseverance (Universal, 2002)
Jamey Jasta – Vocals
Sean Martin – Guitars
Lou “Boulder” Richards – Guitars
Chris Beattie – Bass
Matt Byrne – Drums
Produced by Matt Hyde

It took five years – FIVE!!! – for Hatebreed to follow up their classic, 26-minute opus, Satisfaction is the Death of Desire, with Perseverance. Making the fans wait till they were starved and parched probably would have served the band well even if the music wasn’t so toe-to-the-nuts, knuckle-draggingly brutal. Hatebreed fans were so desperately desiring new tunes from the band as we waited in the wings while Hatebreed wrestled themselves away from their label, Victory Records.

Perseverance was probably one of the first albums of the so-called New Wave of American Metal movement that achieved impressive, high-watermark sales. It blew the doors off the semi-dormant, somewhat sleepy metal scene, which was recovering from the flood of corporate-sponsored nu metal and a heavy infusion of mookishness into metal. In essence, this was the anti-Limp Bizkit record, one that didn’t explore or experiment with trends. It was simple, uncompromising and so fucking heavy. Even though it was released via Universal, a major label, it retained all the signature hallmarks of Hatebreed, unfettered and untouched by the major label machine and its marketing tactics.

Perseverance took everything about Hatebreed – those moshtastic breakdowns, Jamey Jasta’s positive lyrical assertions, and basic but belligerent Cro-Magnon riffage – and pushed it to the next level. The production was crisper and clearer, with Jamey’s vocals more forward in the mix. “I Will Be Heard” was clearly an anthem meant to stand the test of time and in the HxCx universe, it truly has. But album opener “Proven” has always been the song that gets my blood pumping at dangerous levels. It’s dark, it’s angry and upbeat all at the same time.

I always say Perseverance is the “gets the red out” record for me. It stops me from wanting to strangle mountain oxes with my bare hands when my temper flares. It helps me get the aggression out and when I’m done, I want to play with a basket of bulldog puppies. The album doesn’t have songs as much as it has short, abrasive blasts of catharsis.

-Amy Sciarretto

Download Perseverance from Amazon or iTunes!

THE LIST SO FAR:

#18 – Lamb of God, New American Gospel

#19 – Mastodon, Remission

#20 – Shadows Fall, The War Within

#21 – Slipknot, Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses

THE PANEL OF VOTERS

Chris Adler, Lamb of God
Dan And, Bison B.C.
Ben Apatoff, Apatoff for Destruction/Metal Injection
Jason Bittner, Shadows Fall
Tim Brennan, Ferret Music/Channel Zero Entertainment
Freddy Cai, Painkiller Magazine
Ian Christe, Bazillion Points
Reverend David J. Ciancio, Yeah! Management
Betsey Cichoracki, Relapse Records
Paul Conroy, Ferret Music/Channel Zero Entertainment
J. Costa, Thy Will Be Done
Dallas Coyle, ex-God Forbid/Coyle Media
Doc Coyle, God Forbid
CT, Rwake
Anso DF, MetalSucks/Hipsters Out of Metal!
Vince Edwards, Metal Blade Records
Charles Elliott, Abysmal Dawn/Nuclear Blast Records
Brian Fair, Shadows Fall
Leo  Ferrante, Warner Music Group
D.X. Ferris, author 33 1/3: Reign in Blood/Freelance Journalist
Mike Gitter, Roadrunner Records
Nick Green, Decibel
Matt Grenier, August Burns Red
Anthony Guzzardo, Earache Records
Kevin Hufnagel, Dysrhythmia
Mark Hunter, Chimaira
Steve Joh, Century Media
EJ Johantgen, Prosthetic Records
Kim Kelly, Metal Injection/Hails & Horns/Freelance Journalist
Josh “The J” Key, Psychostick
Jason Lekberg, Epic Records
Eyal Levi, Daath
Bob Lugowe, Relapse Records
Matt McChesney, The Autumn Offering
Jake McReynolds, Psychostick
Marc Meltzer, The Syndicate
Josh Middleton, Sylosis
Matt Moore, Rumpelstiltskin Grinder
Vince Neilstein, MetalSucks
Sammy O’Hagar, MetalSucks
Anton OyVey, MetalSucks/Bacon Jew
Rob Pasbani, Metal Injection
Alex Preiss, Psychostick
Carlos Ramirez, NoiseCreep/Universal Music Group
Brian Rocha, Fresno Media USA
Jeremy Rosen, Roadrunner Records
Axl Rosenberg, MetalSucks
Satan Rosenbloom, MetalSucks/Cerebral Metalhead
David Bee Roth, MetalSucks
Jason Rudolph, Heavy Hitter, Inc.
Amy Sciarretto, Roadrunner Records/NoiseCreep
Carl Severson, Ferret Music/Channel Zero Entertainment
Gary Suarez, MetalSucks/No Yoko No/Brainwashed
Geoff Summers, The End Records/Crustcake
Bram Teitelman, The Syndicate/Metal Insider
Alisha Turull, Heavy Hitter, Inc.
Christopher R. Weingarten, 1000TimesYes/Freelance Journalist

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  • fightingmike

    I can see how this was on the list, but i think Hatebreed is so incredibly boring. I like Jasta’s vox, but the music is so simple and average on here that it just doesnt do it for me. Huge recording though.

    • groverXIII

      That pretty much sums up my thoughts on Hatebreed. You could just put ‘I Will Be Heard’ on repeat for a half hour and get the same effect (except that that’s a pretty good song).

  • Mancubus

    hardcore =/= metal. It’s a type of punk.

    FAIL

    • Fink

      Right. ‘Cause Hatebreed clearly don’t have any metal influences.

      I think the “hardcore” you’re referring would be more akin to (as far as modern bands) This Is Hell, Comeback Kid, Modern Life Is War, etc. Those bands have a clear connection to punk and have a more classic hardcore sound. I’d say Hatebreed were really one of the early metalcore bands–they are more equal parts metal and hardcore than any of the so-called current “metalcore” bands.

      That said, I also find Hatebreed pretty boring. I see why they’re on the list; Hatebreed have been a huge influence on heavy music. I just don’t love ‘em.

  • http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com Jimmy

    Eh. I never liked them. A little too boring, imo

    • Uglymicrowave

      FUCK EVERYONE WHO THINKS THIS ALBUM SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!

      FUCK YOU HARD…THIS ALBUM FUCKS YOUR DAD, KILLS YOUR MOM ,RAPES YOUR BROTHER AND SISTER, AND FUCKING BURNS YOUR FAMILY PET…

      FUCK YOU AND THE ASSHOLE U FUCKED ON IN HERE…

      FUCK YOU

      THIS IS SHOULD BE NUMBER 2

      WHAT AN ANGRY FUCKING RECORD

      AHHHHHHHHHHHH

      NUMBER ONE SHOULD BE

      YOUR MOM GETTING RAPED

      AND YOUR DAD TAKING A DICK…UNLESS HE USED TO TOUCH YOU WHEN YOU WERE 7-12

      YOURE PROBABLY A DEPRESSED HEROIN ADDICT NOW…

      LISTEN TO THIS CD

      • Uglymicrowave

        NUMBER ONE SHOULD BE ANY MESHUUGAH RECORD

        OR THE RED CHORD

        OR PANTERA’S FAR BEYOND DRIVEN…

        YOU ALL SUCK…THIS IS WHAT ANGRY FUCKING MUSIC SHOULD SOUND LIKE….

        FUCK EVERYTHING..AHHH

        • a.fan

          you dumbass, far beyond driven was released in the 90′s. “Eligible albums were released between January 1, 2000 and April 1, 2009.”

          • MetalRod

            thank you a.fan!

          • Uglymicrowave

            I know that….thats why this list blows u fucking a.fan

            bury your dead’s cover your tracks better be on this list…

          • 36Thoughtless

            No Bury Your Dead album will ever be on a list like this. If it was on this list, I’d never read this site again.

            Anyway, Hatebreed…seriously?

          • whyowhy

            You’re not making much sense, but whatever, random idiots like you turn this site inot a luaghfest for people with brains

          • whyowhy

            ^
            Refers to uglymicrowave

          • d.o.g.o.b.g.y.n.

            It could refer to anyone who complains about this album’s rightful place on this list. The haters can whine and cry all they want, but like it or not “Perseverance” is one of this century’s more important heavy music releases that helped pave the way for many of today’s metal bands.

          • Joe

            Which is an embarrassing thing to consider doctor. If it wasn’t for Hatebreed there wouldn’t be a Throwdown, or the 9 million other faceless tough guy retards with none of the actual NY hardcore credibility. And Sick of it All came a lot before Hatebreed, but then they were actually good. This list has made painfully obvious the disparity between heavy music in the 90′s and now.

          • dthrasher

            has anyone else noticed that this is always the justification for shitty older bands, “hey they may suck, but they really paved the way man.” paved the way for what? a bunch of other shitty uninspired meathead bullshit?

          • Carnage9

            bury your dead???? god i hope not..

  • Gary S.

    INTERNET COMPLAINT!

    • http://www.myspace.com/unholy2 Zack

      I’M TYPING ANGRY THINGS

  • http://www.myspace.com/dontclickhereyoufuck enterthegrave

    eeeeeh, i’ve been down with this list so far, but this is kinda pushing it. hatebreed? i mean, to their fans, i’m sure this is a great release, but to the metal community as a whole? a bit of a stretch. i could think of plenty of albums much more deserving (and how the fuck did this surpass remission?!).

    • EarthIsGay

      I have a feeling I’ll be saying that alot as this list goes on. I just listened to Remission all the way through yesterday and right now I would say it deserves the number 1 spot…it’s that fucking good.

    • 20 eyes

      remission is shit

      • Matthew Grant Anson

        the shit*

  • ben

    I’m sorry, but these guys do nothing for me. You can split hairs about what genre they are and all that, but what it comes down to is that they are a one dimensional unremarkable act. I’ve seen them twice, and before I did, it was hard to imagine that a band with that much energy could make that many people so bored.

  • http://www.myspace.com/superfreshsucks o0Stacey0o

    Gross misunderstanding. Remove from The List at once!! At the bottom of the comments section it should read “Newer Complaints”. Just a thought, at least for The List’s sake =)

  • http://www.myspace.com/onlytheswolesurvive Mr Garland

    Hey, one of my picks made the list. Thanks MetalSucks!

  • http://www.roxwel.com Pick-Axe Bobby

    ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

    • dthrasher

      nothing more needs to be said

    • http://www.roxwel.com Pick-Axe Bobby

      How many current/former Roadrunner employees are on this list?

      • Mike

        1) this album was not released by Roadrunn. 2) Hatebreed are no longer on Roadrunner. THis is a good pick, shows that there will be some diversity on this list instead of it all being Mastadon and Baroness and Lamb of God, etc. I prefer Rise of Brutality but that’s just me.

  • SP420

    Wow. Unbelievable that so many people held this album in such high regard.

  • Z

    Nah, I don’t think so. Even if you were to pick a Hatebreed album, Satisfaction is the Death… is better.

  • Bryan

    Christ. Seriously? And better than New American Gospel and Remission? ell o ell

  • jesus h. christ

    Written like a true publicist… Do you think she knows that Roadrunner didn’t release THAT Hatebreed album?

    • MetalAC13

      Because publicists for a label only listen to bands that are on their label…

      • dthrasher

        its science

  • Tier

    Good Tier Album.

  • Lord Bling

    Hmmmm. It’s their best abum, but does it deserve to be on this list? If Cynic’s ‘Traced in Air’ isn’t on this list by the time the reveal is over, this will be one of the albums I complain about.

    Just giving you all a warning! :)

    • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keynesian_beauty_contest Because I Want to, Dammit

      Traced in Air seems to be getting a lot of love ’round these parts.

      • dthrasher

        traced in air is terrible.

  • bradican

    the list goes back to shit

    • ZL

      Serisouly, what a terrible fucking band

  • Dustin&Cambria

    Ahhhhhh this list is so terrible!!!!!!!! Now i wont even be able to enjoy myself this weekend!!!! Slipknot is too popular!!! Hatebreed isn’t metal!!! Brian Fair slept with my mom!!!!!! Ahhhhhhhhh

  • Onedollarkatana

    This is the only Hatebreed album I own and I do agree, it fucking rocks. The songs are simple, to the point, and definitely get the blood circulating. That said, I don’t agree that it should be this far up the list–if it was going to be included at all. For me, at least, this album is an “every now and then” listen, rather than something that would be a staple of the old musical diet. For that, I gotta go with Remission, which both rocks and has staying power.

  • bearwizard

    So far the only bands I like on this list are Mastodon and Shadows Fall, I have a question, is this list based on impact/influence/importance or the actual quality of the music?
    Its hard to determine at this point but it seems to be leaning (a lot) towards the former……

  • http://www.myspace.com/somethinglikesweet CJ

    Wow. Didn’t see that coming.

  • BloodGutter

    Good pick, this was one of the first albums I picked up that got me into heavier music with more substance and depth. That and Jamey’s lyrics on this album are truly inspirational.

    As for the majority of these comments, learn to deal with a thing called OPINIONS. If you think these people have bad taste and you could think of a better list, by all means make your own list. Unfortunately I doubt anyone would be interested, so eat shit.

    • Geek Beater

      I agree. This album kicks so much ass in every way. It is not boring for one minute and fucking slays everything in its path. All you fucking idiots on here who bash this record annihiliate yourself. I remember turning some friends onto “Proven” and immediately they went from Korn loving faggots to die hard metal fans. DId you all notice that members of Lamb of God voted for this list? If any of your opinions mattered Axl and Vince would have asked you your favorite records. So stop crying like little girls and appreciate good metal.

  • Johnny Death

    This list still smells pretty good to me, unlike the vast majority of you scat-sucking pos(t)ers who continue to whine and moan. I liked this cd alot when it came out, was like Under the Knife and Satisfaction… only with a high quality sound.

  • Hey Guys

    THE BEST PART OF THIS LIST IS THE MASSIVE AMOUNT OF BUTTHURT RAGE.

    • timmah

      ^^ This.

    • Anselmowitz

      Best part of this list is American Metal alumni jerking off into each others gaping sockets. I get the feeling Meshuggah will be the only foreign band on here, but would not be shocked if Turbonegro somehow shows up.

      • http://www.myspace.com/437666934 Noel

        thats exactly what it is. all the new wave of american metal metalcore whatever bands…im tellin ya, this list is going to resemble the metal side of a Hot Topic T shirt wall….

        • Matthew Grant Anson

          BS. Opeth and Gojira I guarantee make this list at least twice apiece.

  • iolanach

    Another shitty album.

  • Fucktard

    If Converge doesn’t make this list I’m going to cut somebody’s fucking face off. FYI for all the ass wipes above… Hatebreed’s favorite band is Slayer… I’ve seen em on the festival circuit twice, and both times Jasta was beatin off about how Slayer is their favorite fucking band… Like it or not, this is the band that brought metal Mixed with hardcore too the masses. & I wasn’t going to say anything because a few of the nicer tards on this site already pointed it out, but how the fuck did this make it above Mastodon and Lamb of God?!?… Please tell me everybody that voted didn’t take popularity into account. Fuck what the band did to get heavier music more popular. I want a list that’s based solely on the music, and how fucking good it is. If it was popular too, then so be it, but you guys have got to tell me the whole list isn’t a pole stroking contest. On second thought never mind. I think I already know.

    • Gary S.

      As someone who voted, I can assure you that popularity had nothing to do with my choices, which is probably one none of my picks have shown up yet. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH, RICKY!!!!

      • Mike Malice

        I do have to say that Hatebreed was doing this shit at least a few years before Mastodon, Lamb of God, and Slipknot were on the scene.

        So despite the fact that Hatebreed doesn’t have a large degree of musical depth, they were pioneers of their sound.

        A deserving spot on the list.

      • Fucktard

        Thanks for keepin it real Gary… When I go on my 15 state killing spree you will be spared.

  • groverXIII

    I’m impressed at the number of people who find Hatebreed boring and repetitive… it’s good to know I’m in the majority for once. Fuck meathead hardcore. Fuck black baseball caps with no logos. Fuck sweaty dudes in Madball basketball jerseys. Fuck gang vocals. Fuck all these songs about respect and honor and family. Learn a few more chords, douchebags.

    /I don’t even hate hardcore that much, but there’s a lot of fucking cliches.
    //That rant was kinda fun, though.

  • Bicro

    Hatebreed is one of only 2 bands that I have thrown away a record by soon after purchasing. Terrible and boring, highly overrated band, IMO.

  • ibanezninja

    THIS BAND IS SHIT AND SO IS THIS LIST ALSO POSSIBLY YOUR FACE

    just sayin

  • Malacoda

    Fuck fucking Hatebreed. They fucking suck, I now completely disregard this list as Hatebreed AND Slipknot were on it. Hatebreed isn’t even fucking metal. You guys – I love the site, and the only reason I’m not bitching out the MS crew personally is because there are like 60 other voters, so it’s not completely your guys’s fault.

  • taog36

    breakdowns fucking suck

  • hotel

    Im starting to get the feeling this list was made for the purpose of laughing at a bunch of douchebags argue about things they can’t change…im enjoying myself
    i can’t believe people threaten to leave the site, laughs all round

  • plumber

    I like the album (I think Rise is a better album), though I wouldn’t have put it on the “list”. I like to listen to Hatebreed when the mood strikes me…sometimes you just need to fire up some music that is somewhat brainless and about pure aggression. It certainly has its place in my music collection, and I can see why people would have voted for it.

    • dthrasher

      there are much better options

  • Kye

    NOW IS THE TIME FOR ME TO RISE TO MY FEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET

    Fucking classic.

  • Harry

    I’ll just go ahead and add myself to the ranks of people who think Hatebreed fucking blow.

    Trite lyrics over shitty uninspired power chords.

  • SolaceInNothing

    I truly have grown to love the “This isn’t metal!” argument.

    It’s the most selfish of the ignorant metal-blog-trollers arsenal of typical comments because it really displays so adorably their loss of reality on subjectivity.

    • Mancubus

      But It’s not. Hatebreed is heavily influenced by metal but is still a hardcore band. Sure they’re more brutal than a lot of metalcore bands, but that doesn’t change the fact that Hatebreed is still more similar to Madball, Eighteen Visions, Shai Hulud, Terror and Merauder. Hardcore was borne out of the punk scene although hardcore has grown away from it’s roots. Shai Hulud thankfully still keeps more punk riffs in their songs but most hardcore is now only loosely related to punk, much like most grindcore today. The difference is that I’d include most grindcore and metalcore under the metal tag but pure hardcore is not metal it’s still a highly evolved form of punk.

      Metalcore is more stuff like Converge, Unearth, DEP, Killswitch Engage, Botch, etc. Jamey Jasta is totally into the metal scene but Hatebreed doesn’t play in the genre. I like metal, I like hardcore and I can tell you that Hatebreed isn’t metalcore, they’re hardcore.

  • MetalRod

    hilarity ensues on the metalsucks blog, as always.
    looooove it.
    no…. i hatebreed it!!!!

    or maybe i’m just drunk…

  • JRTME

    Really? Really? REALLY?

    I defended some of the choices before. But if you were going to pick an album from this band.

    How about the one that is the most metal? The Rise Of Brutality.

    I own Perseverance. But clearly The Rise Of Brutality is A. a better sounding album B. More metal.

    The Rise Of Brutality you can hear the Sepultura all over them. It’s no doubt Metal. But Perseverance is very crossover still.

  • http://www.metalsucks.net/ David Bee Roth

    I was only into Hatebreed for about a week but this was the album I listened to.

  • jonowev

    AWESOME album. Can’t go wrong with any Hatebreed albums really. Altogether now… “PERSEVERANCE, AGAINST ALL OPPOSITION!”

  • MrTwig

    Not to get too heavily entrenched in the whole genre debate, but I’ve always considered Hatebreed to be that band that sits right on the edge of the border between hardcore and metal. I think it’s a pretty rad album, but seems to fall just short of qualifying as metal. Either that, or I’m just an idiot. Regardless, I like the album, so I don’t care that much.

  • i think

    meh i remember listening to this and feeling all big when i still liked to snow patrol and coldplay
    suppose it kind of got me into heavier music.
    its alright but when you’re used to listening to more intricate metal the sound is boring as fuck

  • ihateyou

    Hatebreed is as bad as it gets. Jesus…… LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT METAL BEFORE WRITING BLOGS.

  • Jizzmaster3000

    Anyone else notice that album cover looks like a moody face ‘_’

  • B-dizzle

    Oh, awesome, you guys chose a shitty Hatebreed album

  • Jizzmaster3000

    Anyone else think the album cover looks like a moody face? ‘_’

  • http://www.bayareametalscene.com DS

    This album is important: It finally gave skinheads a band logo to tattoo on their faces.

  • Carnage9

    oh god.. hatebreed?? theyre practically nu metal..

    • Mancubus

      :facepalm:

      Hardcore is not Nu Metal

      • http://www.myspace.com/uglydirge aaron m.

        well, i don’t know about that. let’s get out the nu metal checklist.

        let’s see. stupid facial piercings? check. embarrassing hairstyles and retarded fashion sense? check. simplistic guitar riffs that could have been written by an ape? check. forced emotional content? check.

        hm. well, it looks like you were wrong and hardcore IS, in fact, nu metal.

  • http://www.myspace.com/uglydirge aaron m.

    lady gaga should be #1 just to piss you guys off.

  • DGP

    Hatebreed brought metal back from that Nu Metal crap in a huge way. Simple, back to basics, no frills metal. I loved it and still do.

  • Kevin

    This list is horse shit

  • B-dizzle

    And by more important, I think you mean less important. Fucking weak shit. Satisfaction is the Death of Desire should be up there, to bad it can’t be because of the time issue.

  • mr lun

    yeah, but i mean, sick of it all and hatebreed don’t really sound alike at all

  • Charlie B

    This site cracks me up. First they push IWABO, and now this list. Thanks for the laugh.

  • axls homo

    hatebreed sucks dick

  • tiagón

    great album.

  • Pantallica

    Wheres #16!