Grammy-nominated hardcore and metal veterans Hatebreed have officially announced Fatal Paradox, their first studio album in six years, scheduled for release on November 6 via BLKIIBLK, the heavy music imprint of Frontiers Label Group. Alongside the announcement, the band has unveiled the blistering lead single "Kill Count Increase," accompanied by an official music video.
Produced by longtime collaborator Chris "Zeuss" Harris, known for his work with Rob Zombie, Accept, and Shadows Fall, the track delivers a relentless blend of hardcore aggression, crossover thrash energy, crushing riffs, and the unmistakable intensity of Jamey Jasta's vocals.
Speaking about the song, Jasta said:
"'Kill Count Increase' is the lead track on Fatal Paradox and a perfect way of summing up our first album in six years from the start. It's straightforward, in-your-face HATEBREED. Fast. Hard. It gets down to business and comes up for air two-and-a-half minutes later. The room and everyone in it gets wrecked and comes back wanting more."
According to the band, Fatal Paradox captures Hatebreed operating at full force, combining devastating breakdowns, d-beat rhythms, and thrash influences across songs including "Kill Count Increase," "Total Invincible," "The Carrion Choir," and "Truth Is A Lion."
The album also marks the beginning of a new partnership with BLKIIBLK.
"BLKIIBLK put together a dream team to get behind the new HATEBREED record and we couldn't be happier — new label, new horizons, crushing new songs. We are beyond grateful and can't wait to unleash these tracks on the world!"
Drummer Matt Byrne described 2026 as a defining year for the band:
"2026 is the year of HATEBREED. This juggernaut as we know it is picking up the pace rapidly and is taking no prisoners. As if 2025 wasn't enough of a truly busy and successful year, this summer sees multiple European festivals, headline tours, two separate U.S. legs of the Summer Slaughter Tour, and a powerhouse of a new record dropping this fall."
Jasta also praised producer Zeuss, highlighting the decades-long relationship between the band and the producer:
"He's been like a sixth member of this band for years. When you're chasing something timeless, memorable, and meaningful, having that level of trust and understanding makes all the difference."
Fatal Paradox will arrive as Hatebreed headlines the second leg of the 2026 Summer Slaughter Tour, launching August 20 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with support from Terror, Incantation, Gates To Hell, Torture, and Creeping Death.
