Album Review: Hellbearer - Darker Fates
Reviewed by Sam Jones
Hellbearer might only be three years into their career but since their 2022 inception, they’ve played Bloodstock Open Air’s New Blood Stage, released their first album, For Those About To Bear Hell, in 2023, and just two years on they’re poised to release their second studio album. Hailing from Manchester, UK, Hellbearer will be no strangers to quality live music acts given the number of tours that passes through that part of the UK wherein they have performed numerous times before and as we pass into the latter part of 2025, the band are racking up bigger support slots on bigger headlining tours. They're evidently doing well, so well that they’ve been able to release Darker Fates for a September 19th release date via wholly independent means. Hellbearer is comprised of young musicians, having already triumphed with their early successes and thus, with Darker Fates on the horizon, they’re ready to show their breakthrough was no fluke.
After a small introductory piece Hellbearer launch us right into their thrash attack, knowing they’ll subject us to such a belligerent vortex for fifty minutes straight. Something you’ll pick up on is the ripping quality their guitar tone emits for during their performance you’ll feel those riffs locate and tear right through you. It’s the kind of thrash, I’d argue, you want to discover because the band aren’t merely halting their advance upon your person; conversely they’re going to take that plunge through you and out the other side. As a result you’ll feel so much more bridled with energy knowing you don’t need to hold yourself back because Hellbearer are begging you to break loose as totally as they are themselves. As chords and licks are utilised they come off with this razor-blade aesthetic wherein their speed and tenacity heighten the songwriting with a greater, glistening gleam.
It may strike some as odd to hear a drumming performance where the bass drums aren’t completely abused in a thrash record. Granted they are used to provide that additional impact for you can hear them, albeit they haven’t been thrust right in your face. Then again I leaned towards the drums here because of the great variety displayed, whether that be the patterns used or the tempo which those very patterns are performed with. As the intensity rises don’t be surprised to hear the drums reply in turn, dishing out drum rolls taking a track to higher, frantic plains.
Modern thrash metal has employed a score of vocal styles but Hellbearer utilise that homegrown technique whereby what you hear out of frontman Ash Allen on record is likely what he sounds like in everyday life. By extension it drastically minimises the barrier between yourself and the music on display because the individuals thus creating it are no different than yourself. That’s often been Hellbearer’s hidden strength: its thrash metal for thrash fans made by thrash fans, reminding me of the vibe old school fans must have felt when they first heard Exodus or Metallica or Overkill back in thrash’s burgeoning days. The vocals allow you to sink that little deeper into the band’s social-politically charged lyrics, into concepts prevalently displayed in modern human society should one lift the veil.
While one will hear better, more clearly produced thrash albums this year, Darker Fates manages to do well with the production means available to the band. Listening to the record you’ll find it is rough in places and had more expensive means of mixing capability be available you could imagine a more seamless listening experience between the instrumental elements. With that said though Hellbearer have managed to give their rougher sounding record a coat of silk that lets the production they’ve gone for flow and soothe the accompanying components like dripping honey. When you listen to a track like “Afflicted” or “The Witch” the instrumentation morphs easily as tracks develop and the drums are given weight and their bass provides the needed underlayer, keeping their sound grounded. So whilst other thrash albums might be clearer Hellbearer do a lot within their auditory confines to make Darker Fates a meaningful work of thrash.
In conclusion, Darker Fates is the bigger, badder brother of Those About To Bear Hell. Here we see Hellbearer break through the concrete barrier that many newer bands fall short before, crafting now a record that’s sure to make Manchester proud to sport. Darker Fates sees Hellbearer become the developed, mature band I’ve always known they would transform into, it simply needed time and time has proven Hellbearer an effective thrash act coming from the woodwork. It’s comes as no surprise why they’ve been on the rise lately, so here’s hoping the release of Darker Fates finds Hellbearer in an even more fortuitous position than they already are. I think this record delves into more mature and nuanced territory than their debut record, it’s rather par for the course with newer bands yet Hellbearer carry themselves well. They no longer feel like “a newer band”, simply one who are excellent to experience and wicked to catch live.
