After
Soundgarden wrapped up their near year-long tour in support of
Badmotorfinger in 1992, the bandmembers took some time off. Just before sessions for their classic
Superunknown began, bassist Ben Shepherd and drummer
Matt Cameron decided to record some songs for fun with local Seattle friends, under the name
Hater. Included in this ad hoc band were ex-
Monster Magnet guitarist
John McBain, singer Brian Wood (brother of the late-
Mother Love Bone vocalist Andrew Wood), and
Devilhead bassist John Waterman. Those expecting a
Soundgarden-esque hard rock album were caught off guard by
Hater's penchant for garage rock and classic rock sounds, as evidenced by a rocking cover of
Cat Stevens' "Mona Bone Jakon," as well as the originals "Who Do I Kill?," "Lion and Lamb," "Down Undershoe," "Tot Finder," and "Sad McBain." Although the band released just this one recording,
McBain, Shepherd, and
Cameron would re-group a few years later under the different moniker
Wellwater Conspiracy, releasing the exceptional
Declaration of Conformity in 1997. [
Hater was re-released on CD in 2016.] ~ Greg Prato