Hatebreed - 'For The Lions'

Cover albums are almost always met with mixed response by fans and critics. Proponents praise the artist returning to their roots and paying homage to those who influenced them. Opponents says it's a cash grab or contract fulfilling move with little or no effort by the band.

Hatebreed's For The Lions seems to be the former. There are 18 tracks, and the band picked tracks from bands who inspired and influenced them. There's some punk, some hardcore and some metal in the mix. They cover everybody from Cro-Mags to Suicidal Tendencies to Madball to Obituary. The album also features the return of Hatebreed's original guitarist Wayne Lozniak after the exit of Sean Martin.

The strongest songs on For The Lions, as you'd probably expect, are the fast and intense ones. It's only appropriate they cover the Misfits' "Hatebreeders," and they do a rousing rendition. They also blaze through Black Flag's "Thirsty And Miserable," Agnostic Front's "Your Mistake" and D.R.I.'s "Evil Minds." Songs like that are right in Hatebreed's wheelhouse.

Not every songs is spot on, however. Metallica's "Escape" falters with mediocre vocals, and there are a few others that are marginal, like "Ghosts Of War," originally done by Slayer. Those are in the minority, though, and For The Lions is a varied ride through Hatebreed's musical upbringing.

(released May 5, 2009 on E1 Music)