REVIEW: Hateful Dread

Review: Hateful Dread – Facecrawler EP

Straight out of Swansea, Hateful Dread unleash Facecrawler, an EP that cements their place as one of the UK’s most uncompromising heavy acts. It’s a release steeped in atmosphere, grit and sheer power—five tracks that pay homage to the doom and groove traditions while pushing their own chaotic edge.

The title track, Facecrawler, sets the tone immediately. Grinding and heavy, it’s an atmospheric descent carried by a bellowing vocal refrain that recalls Black Sabbath at their absolute darkest. The riffs lumber with menace, dragging the listener deep into Hateful Dread’s world.

Dark Heathen Forces kicks off with a brooding, cutting guitar line that swirls and builds until the brutal vocal cuts straight through. The outro slows to a crushing crawl, winding the track down with a weight that lingers.

The third track, War Prophet, is a highlight. Here the band flexes their musical muscle with fearless tempo changes and accented drums that add fresh dynamics to their sound. A head-nodding riff runs throughout, but it’s the solo that steals the show—rare speed and emotion perfectly locked together, showing the band’s ambition and craft.

With Black Door, the tone shifts into a more groove-laden attack. The buzzsaw guitar riff locks into that trademark Hateful Dread groove, while lyrics tip their hat (in their own twisted way) to horror movie culture. Layers of chaotic guitar noise swirl around, adding depth and texture to the controlled mayhem.

Closing track Enter erupts in a storm of noise and distortion. It’s a purely instrumental piece, but it feels like the perfect closer—letting the chaos wash over before the silence that follows.

With Facecrawler, Hateful Dread deliver a statement of intent: heavy, atmospheric, groove-driven, and utterly uncompromising. This is a band that knows their roots but isn’t afraid to carve their own monstrous path.

For Fans of: Black Sabbath, Paradise Lost and Elder

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