HATEBREED drummer Matt Byrne has offered an exciting preview of the Connecticut hardcore metal veterans' upcoming new album, revealing that the record will take a significantly heavier and thrashier direction. In a recent interview, Byrne described the new material as "way thrashier" and "way more metal," citing a SLAYER-esque influence while emphasizing that the band's trademark groove elements remain firmly intact.
The revelation comes alongside the announcement that HATEBREED will headline the 2026 edition of the Summer Slaughter tour, kicking off July 2 in Reading, Pennsylvania. Vocalist Jamey Jasta confirmed that the band will debut "a couple tunes from our upcoming new album" during the tour, giving fans their first taste of the new direction in a live setting.
HATEBREED have built their reputation over nearly three decades as one of the most ferocious and reliable live acts in heavy music, fusing hardcore punk aggression with metal precision. The band's last studio album, "Weight of the False Self" (2020), was praised for its uncompromising intensity, and Byrne's description suggests the follow-up will push even further into extreme territory.
The Summer Slaughter tour features support from DEVOURMENT, INCANTATION (on the final five dates), SNUFFED ON SIGHT, BALMORA, and FACE YOURSELF. Presale tickets are available now using the code HBSLAUGHTER26, with general on-sale beginning March 27 at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster. If Byrne's preview is any indication, HATEBREED's next chapter could be their heaviest yet.