Live Dominance

AMG Review of Live Dominance

Greg Prato
All Music Guide

The opening message of Hatebreed's 2008 DVD release, Live Dominance, goes like this: "This DVD is a snapshot in time capturing the Supremacy lineup -- our strongest ever. We shot the live performance at Harpo's in Detroit -- where the pits are brutal and hardcore metal roots run deep." And there you have it -- all you need to know about this live DVD. Shall we dig a bit deeper? OK, we shall. It's no secret that Hatebreed are a big reason for hardcore metal's undeniable massive rise in popularity during the early 21st century, and the group has done so with its intense, mosh-o-plenty live performances. So why not document the group at the peak of its live powers? Good idea! Live Dominance certainly delivers, as the cameras capture as many shots of the crowd as possible; in fact, the audience is in almost as many shots as the bandmembers. And given the many Hatebreed favorites featured here -- "Perseverance," "A Call for Blood," "Doomsayer," "Before Dishonor" -- fans can't complain about the set list, either. In addition to including their complete Harpo's performance, you also get a second disc featuring bonus live footage, interviews, fan testimonials, etc. Some live metal DVDs come off almost as bands playing to themselves on a sound stage, with little to no crowd interaction or any evidence that there is an audience present. Live Dominance is the complete opposite, and certainly proves a fact that longtime fans have known for years -- Hatebreed's audience certainly fuels the group on-stage.