There was a time when Divine Chaos were about to burst onto the scene. 2020’s The Way To Oblivion suggested big things were coming, but since 2022’s support slot to Evile, there has been little to find on socials or gig-wise.
Divine Chaos – Hate Reactor
Release Date: 27 March 2026
Words: Paul Hutchings
Hate Reactor sees the band returning with a pretty big bang. Nine tracks span 40 minutes, and all bring a huge sound and modern production that straddles several genres whilst always retaining the heft of a band whose natural home straddles Death and Thrash Metal.
Central to everything that is good is singer Jut Tabor, whose power is something to behold. This, combined with the dual guitar work of founders Matt Gilmoor and Chris O’Toole, pushes everything forward with a dynamism often lacking in other bands.
The album kicks off with two big beasts that collide with huge amounts of weight and groove. Regicide is followed by the title track, a glorious Lamb Of God vibe that allows plenty of space yet does not let up for a second. It is explosive, addictive, and sees some high-level lead work.
The band’s ability to fuse Thrash with Melodic Death Metal and large servings of groove is what makes Divine Chaos a band whose mere name piques the interest. There are cleans and throat-burning, roaring passages on the likes of Where Gods Are Last In Line, the cleans bringing a melodious element to the carnage.
At times, there is more of a Thrash style to the band, but they retain a blend of melody with that driving riff-heavy fire. The New Reality is one of the more accessible tracks here, whilst the vocals soar over Without A Trace and the ferocious drumming of Mariusz Marecki.
You can feel the effort that Divine Chaos has invested here. They are clearly determined to remind us all that they are back, and these songs should be hugely impressive live.
Savage but with a driving current that gets the head nodding and the urge to bounce around, tracks like Blood Of The Earth draw on modern-day Carcass mixed with Evile in its power and punishing visceral delivery.
This Coming Storm is one of the standout tracks. Exceptionally fast in tempo, it has a glorious riff that repeats throughout the song, and an impactful finish that almost slams your head into the wall.
Finishing with the snarling nastiness of Shadows Of The Wasteland, which once more combines all the elements of Divine Chaos in a fireball of a track, Hate Reactor reminds you that on their day, Divine Chaos are frighteningly good.
Whether this album will be enough to reclaim some of the previous anticipation is open to debate, but it is certainly good to have the Berkshire outfit back in the world of Metal.
Divine Chaos self-release Hate Reactor on 27 March 2026. For more details, visit divinechaosmetal.com.
