From the EPK: HATRED'S RISE is a solo Metal project conceived by veteran session and fill-in guitarist Pat Larocque in 2024. Built from the ground up in his studio (Iron Sphere Studios) in Northern Ontario, Canada, HATRED'S RISE fuses the raw, blood-and-bone grit of traditional Metal with cinematic atmospheres and modern production precision. The debut album "Echoes Of The Machine" was actually released in March 2025, which means we are reviewing this half a year after the fact. Sorry about that, but apparently, we needed to catch up. That's where I come in. Pat Laroque has been around as a session musician for a long time, and he felt it was time to put all his endeavours and experience together in a band that doesn't carry his name, but has his signature written all over it. and after listening to "Echoes Of The Machine" I have to say that he was right to do so. What this man originating from Sudbury, Ontario, Canada is capable of is rather widespread. He is able to write and play Metal (Thrash, Groove, Progressive, Traditional), Hard Rock and Instrumental music in a way that is very much of a high class. That means that what Pat has put on "Echoes Of The Machine" fits him down to a T. he is able to not only demonstrate his writing skills, but also his ample knowledge and capabilities on the guitar. HATRED'S RISE has a hell of a sound, but most of all is comprised by a group of very good and experienced players. The lyrics were co-written by Shawn Drover (ex-MEGADETH, ex-ACT OF DEFIANCE, EIDOLON). As he is a drummer, I wouldn't be surprised if he did that on this album, although that wasn't mentioned on the EPK. His brother Glen Drover (ex-MEGADETH, ex-KING DIAMOND, EIDOLON) is the bassist and second guitar player on the album. The two vocalists on "Echoes Of The Machine" are not be sniffed at either, with Mike De Meo (ex-RIOT, ex-MASTERPLAN) and Henning Basse (METALIUM, ex-FIREWIND). Together they are able to bring the music of HATRED'S RISE to life. And if you ask me, it is rather good. All of the songs have a certain vibe and sound that makes them stick together like glue, without them ever being too similar. They have that kind of coherency that makes for a pleasant listen. It did take me a few sessions before that sunk in, but after that it was all systems go. I like what I hear. And if you like you heavy Metal to be diverse and of good quality, you will too.