HATEBREED Drummer Doesn't Rule Out Sequel To 'For The Lions' Covers Album

HATEBREED drummer Matt Byrne has confirmed to the “Thunder Underground” podcast that the band is preparing to begin writing material for the follow-up to 2016’s “The Concrete Confessional” album. “Yeah, we’re talking,” he said. “I think two to three years has been our timeline, usually, between albums. Sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less, but overall, that’s kind of the average — two to three years between records for HATEBREED. So we’ve talked loosely about 2019 at some point — I’m not sure when — getting in a room and starting to hash out ideas.”

He continued: “The thing with us is we’ve always been a pretty heavily touring band, whether it be overseas or in the U.S. or wherever. So sometimes the idea is there, like, ‘Yeah, we should really write some new material,’ and what will happen is a tour will come up or something, and it’s a good opportunity, and it’s, like, ‘Well, shit. Let’s just stay on the road.’ “Cause we’re still getting the current music out there and everyone’s having a good time; nobody’s burnt out or anything. We’re road dogs, you know.”

Byrne added that while he is sure “there’s ideas in everyone’s heads” for new HATEBREED music, “we haven’t gotten in a room and started putting stuff together.”

The drummer also talked about the possibility of HATEBREED recording a sequel to the band’s 2009 covers album, “For The Lions”. “We’ve joked about it over the years, since we did the first one,” he said. “It’s funny, because you hear Cyndi Lauper or something on the radio, and we’re, like, ‘Oh, ‘For The Lions 2’. We’ll try that.’ So it’s always been a running joke. Even though it’s talked about as a joke, I don’t think it’s completely out of the question. It would be kind of cool to do. I know NAPALM DEATH has done it — back-to-back cover albums; kind of a volume of covers. So, yeah, I’d love to do it.”

As for which songs might make it on to the next covers album, Matt said: “I don’t know. I mean, we could go way off the spectrum and do something like Cyndi Lauper or something like that — not that that’s an idea that’s being talked about. Or you just keep it heavy, and there’s plenty of heavy bands out there to cover. We’re fans of so much stuff, it’s really just [a mater of] throwing a bunch of names in the hat and seeing what’s picked out. If everyone agrees, we’ll go for it. But, yeah, the idea is there, I guess. Anything is possible. Never say never.”

“For The Lions” included HATEBREED‘s renditions of songs by SLAYER, MISFITS, METALLICA, CRO-MAGS, D.R.I., AGNOSTIC FRONT, MADBALL, SHEER TERROR and OBITUARY, among others.

“The Concrete Confessional” was produced and mastered by HATEBREED‘s longtime collaborator Chris “Zeuss” Harris (ROB ZOMBIE, SUICIDE SILENCE, WHITECHAPEL) and mixed by Josh Wilbur (LAMB OF GOD, MEGADETH). Artwork was created by Marcelo Vasco (SLAYER).