WARFARE - A Conflict of Hatred 12" Vinyl LP Album

- Genuine 1988 Neat Records 1044

Surrealist album cover for Warfare's 'A Conflict of Hatred' showing a distorted, multi-eyed face blending into folds of red cloth, with a grayscale bust of a stern figure on the side

In the 1988 release "Conflict of Hatred" by Warfare on Neat Records' 12" Vinyl LP Album, Mantas of Venom makes a captivating guest appearance. Renowned for his role in production and sound engineering, Keith Nichol adds a unique touch with his violin and keyboard performances. This album intricately weaves together elements of warfare and musical prowess, creating an intense auditory experience that resonates with the era's metal scene.

WARFARE - A Conflict of Hatred: a Blast of '88 Neat Records Mayhem
Album Description:

"A Conflict of Hatted." This wasn't just another NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) echo; it was a primal scream in a studded leather jacket, a middle finger raised to the hairspray-and-spandex glam metal scene that was dominating MTV.

Warfare had been kicking around the UK metal scene since the early '80s, but by '88, they'd honed their sound into a blunt instrument of aggression. "A Conflict of Hatred" wasn't about virtuosity or technical prowess; it was about raw power and unadulterated rage. Think Motörhead on a bad day, or Venom with a chip on their shoulder.

The album opens with the title track, a relentless barrage of distorted guitars and pummeling drums. Vocalist Paul Evo spits out his lyrics with a venomous snarl, railing against injustice and hypocrisy with a working-class fury. This wasn't music for the faint of heart; it was the soundtrack to a back alley brawl, the anthem of the disenfranchised.

Musically, Warfare weren't reinventing the wheel. They were rooted in the classic heavy metal tradition, but they injected it with a punk rock energy and a streetwise attitude. Songs like "Death Sentence" and "The End of Humanity" were stripped-down and brutal, with no time for solos or frills. The production, handled by the band themselves, was rough and raw, capturing the intensity of their live shows.

"A Conflict of Hatred" wasn't without its controversies. The album's lyrics, with their references to violence and social unrest, raised eyebrows in some quarters. Warfare weren't afraid to tackle taboo subjects, and they didn't shy away from expressing their anger. This wasn't music for the masses; it was a rallying cry for the marginalized and the disaffected.

Neat Records, the label that released "A Conflict of Hatred," was known for its roster of underground metal bands. They weren't concerned with commercial success; they were about giving a voice to the outcasts and the rebels. Warfare fit perfectly into this ethos, and the album became a cult classic among fans of the heavier side of metal.

Essentials of: WARFARE - A Conflict of Hatred
Music Genre:

NWOBHM, Speed Metal 

Label & Catalognr:

      Neat 1044

Media Format:

Record Format: 12" Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram  

Year & Country:

  1988 France

Production & Recording Information
Producers & Credits:
  • Keith Nichol – Producer.

    Keith Nichol, Producer, Sound Engineer, ( Guest ) musician has been in-house producer for the NEAT Record label. He has been responsible for the production and sound engineering of many NWOBHM bands during the 1980s. Most notable these bands include: Atomkraft, Blitzkrieg, Fist, Raven, Venom, Warfare, and many others.

    On Warfare's album "A Conflict of Hatred", Keith Nichol takes care of the production, sound engineering and as guest musician playing violin and keyboards.

  • EVO – Producer
  • Recorded at Impulse 2-1 Track / 2-On-1
  • Album Cover Design: Chris Coates
  • Album Cover Artwork: Gunner
Sound & Recording Engineers:

Keith Nichol - Sound Engineer

Recording Location:

Recorded at Impulse 24 track

Album Cover Design & Artwork:

Chris Coates - Album cover Design

Gunner - Cover Artwork

Musicians:
  • EVO – Lead Vocals, Drums, Percussion.
    Evo is the stage name of Paul Evans, a British musician best known as the founder, drummer, and vocalist of the influential metal band Warfare, formed in 1984. Known for fusing punk’s raw energy with the speed and heaviness of early thrash and NWOBHM, Evo helped pioneer the punk-metal crossover sound. Warfare’s debut album Pure Filth was produced by Venom’s Cronos, reflecting their underground credibility. As the driving force behind Warfare, Evo became a cult figure in extreme metal for his aggressive style, anti-mainstream attitude, and unapologetic approach.
  • Gunner – Guitars
    The guitarist known as Gunner from the British metal band Warfare is Kelvin Johnson. He was a founding member of the band, which formed in 1984 alongside drummer/vocalist Paul "Evo" Evans and bassist Falken. Gunner played a significant role in shaping Warfare's aggressive blend of punk and metal during the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) era. He remained with the band until 1990, contributing to their early and influential releases.
  • Zlaughter – Bass
    Zlaughter was the bassist for the British heavy metal band Warfare, joining the group in 1986 after the departure of original bassist Falken. His tenure with the band lasted until their disbandment in 1993. Zlaughter contributed to several of Warfare's albums during this period, including Mayhem, Fuckin' Mayhem (1986), A Conflict of Hatred (1988), and Hammer Horror (1990). These works are noted for their fusion of punk and metal elements, characteristic of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement.
  • Additional Musicians:
  • Mantas – Guest Guitar
    Mantas (real name Jeffrey Dunn) is a British guitarist best known as a founding member of Venom, a pioneering band in black metal. He played on classic albums like Welcome to Hell and Black Metal. Beyond Venom, he formed the band Mantas, played in Venom Inc., and contributed guest guitar to Warfare’s A Conflict of Hatred in 1992.
  • Marti Craggs – Saxophone
    Marty Craggs is an English multi-instrumentalist and vocalist from Newcastle upon Tyne, renowned for his work with the folk-rock band Lindisfarne, where he contributed vocals, saxophone, and harmonica. He also played saxophone on Warfare's 1988 album A Conflict of Hatred. Currently, Craggs leads his own group, Marty Craggs' Little Band Jam, performing a blend of folk, rock, and Celtic music.
  • Keith Nichol – Violin and Keyboards
Tracklisting Side One:
  • Wax Works
  • Hate To Create
  • Revolution
  • Dancing In The Flames Of Insanity
  • Evolution
  • Fatal Vision
Tracklisting Side Two:
  • Deathcharge (Doomsday)
  • Order Of The Dragons
  • Elite Forces
  • Rejoice The Feast Of Quarantine
High Resolution & Quality Photos
Front Cover Photo Of WARFARE - A Conflict of Hatred
Surrealist album cover for Warfare's 'A Conflict of Hatred' showing a distorted, multi-eyed face blending into folds of red cloth, with a grayscale bust of a stern figure on the side.

This surreal and unsettling album cover for Warfare – A Conflict of Hatred features a distorted male face composed of fleshy, cubist-like fragments. The face appears fractured and rearranged, with multiple overlapping eyes — three stacked vertically on the left side — and disproportionate facial features that challenge spatial logic.

The skin tones range from earthy reds and browns to subtle yellows, giving the face a grotesque, almost decaying quality. The man's mouth seems stretched and duplicated, while his lower jaw fades into white fabric resembling a cravat or bandage, reinforcing a theme of violence or suffering.

The background is awash in deep crimson folds, reminiscent of blood-stained velvet, framing the central face. To the right, a monochrome bust of a stern, classical male figure in a high-collared shirt — possibly Beethoven or a similar archetype — emerges from the shadows, adding a haunting, almost judgmental presence to the scene.

In the upper left corner, the cracked and fragmented band name WARFARE is scrawled on a torn white label. At the bottom, the title A Conflict Of Hatred is displayed in gothic white script, anchoring the chaotic composition with a sense of formal finality.

Photo Of The Back Cover WARFARE - A Conflict of Hatred
Back cover of Warfare's 1988 LP 'A Conflict of Hatred' featuring full lyrics, credits, tracklisting for both sides, and a barbed-wire frame with dripping blood surrounding band and production notes.

The back cover of Warfare – A Conflict of Hatred is richly detailed and laid out on a deep blood-red background. The most striking element is a black, torn banner framed by barbed wire dripping with blood. This central graphic contains the tracklist, credits, and musician information, printed in bold white and yellow text.

The track listings are divided into Side Dancing and Side Fire, each listing six aggressive song titles, such as "Deathcharge (Doomsday)", "Rejoice the Feast of Quarantine", and "Noise, Filth and Fury Requiem." Band members and guest musicians are credited beneath, including Mantas (guest guitar), Marti Craggs (saxophone), Irene Hume (harmony vocals), and Keith Nichol (violin, keyboards, engineering, and production).

Surrounding the central banner are full printed lyrics to every track, arranged in tight yellow type. The typography contrasts starkly with the red backdrop, while the lyrics themselves reflect themes of war, social collapse, and personal struggle, all delivered in the brutal, poetic style typical of the NWOBHM genre.

In the lower right corner is the Neat Records logo and catalog number NEAT 1044. Beneath the tracklist is a quote from Melody Maker magazine, 1976, predicting that future generations of British punk rock would inspire new waves of rebellion — a fitting epigraph for this ferocious album.

Close up of the record's label
Center label of Warfare's 1988 LP 'A Conflict of Hatred' featuring bold WARFARE logo, NEAT 1044 catalog number, tracklist for Side One, and 'Made in France' mark.

This is the center record label for Warfare – A Conflict of Hatred, pressed in 1988 by Neat Records. The label is printed in black on a matte silver-gray background and features the bold, block-letter WARFARE logo at the top, which dominates the upper portion of the label.

Just below, the album title A Conflict of Hatred is printed in uppercase, followed by the heading Side Dancing (One), denoting Side One of the LP. The six track titles are listed numerically: "Waxworks", "Hate to Create", "Revolution", "Dancing in the Flames of Insanity", "Evolution", and "Fatal Vision". Asterisks next to certain songs indicate publishing notes.

To the left, the copyright notice MCPS ℗ 1988 is printed, confirming the year of release. On the right, the catalog number NEAT 1044 is displayed, along with format details: "Side One" and "33⅓ r.p.m." for standard LP playback speed.

At the bottom center, the label states MADE IN FRANCE in all caps, identifying the pressing country. Fine print wraps around the outer edge, reading: "All rights of the manufacturer and of the owner of the recorded work reserved – unauthorized public performance, broadcasting and copying of this record prohibited."

Additional production notes credit Evo & K. Nichol for recording at Impulse 24, with songwriting credited to P. Evans / K. Johnson / A. Ward. This label presents a clean, industrial aesthetic in keeping with the raw, aggressive tone of the music it introduces.

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