CD REVIEW: BLOODY HAMMERS – The Horrific Case Of Bloody Hammers EP

Label: Napalm Records

Release Date: July 14, 2017

Rating: 9/10

Reviewed by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur

According to the album press release: Open the gates of hell and let loose the fascinating Horror Rock of the infernal duo, BLOODY HAMMERS. Their new six-song strong EP “The Horrific Case Of Bloody Hammers” descends from the dark mountain peaks of Transylvania. Here somber-sacral organ symphonies slide over cruel hammering staccato riffing. Our master of horror is Anders Manga, who delivers a bombastic, powerful voice over his wife Devallia’s sinister synthesizers.  “Gates Of Hell” starts this EP off on the right foot.  As a fan of the band (having purchased every release available), I love the sound and feel of this track, as it incorporates the heavier sound of the band, but gives it a tweaked cadence that lends itself to less of a doom sound and more of a mainstream rock groove.  “Blood” brings the heavier feel of the bands previous releases to the forefront without sounding rehashed or reworked.  The vocals from Manga and the keyboards from Devallia are a perfect swirl of sounds that encapsulate the groove of the band.  “Vultures Circle Overland” is another track that demonstrates the duos ability to stay true to their sound and origins while growing from a production and writing aspect.  The groove hooks you and keeps you listening.

“The Beyond” is a cool track that takes me back musically to the bands self-titled debut release, but with an updated feel to the production and overall sound.  The tempo of this track may be a bit slower, but the intensity of the other songs on this collection is just as present here as on any other track on the disc.  “All The Colors Of The Dark” is classic Bloody Hammers with a slightly accelerated vibe.  The drumming and bass provide a killer foundation underneath Manga’s vocals and Devallia’s keyboards.  The heavy groove of the track through the bridge give this song a little more sonic punch than others here, but keeps the flow of the disc steady.  Closer “The Bloodsucker Leads The Dance” opens with organ and some heavy bottom end, delivering a sense of closure and finality, without taking away from the rest of the discs vibe.  This song wraps everything great on this EP with the consistent vibe of the bands catalog and ties them nicely together.  With this release, I cannot wait to see what comes next.  The worst thing about this release??  No CD release for us old school collectors that don’t do vinyl.

Tracklisting: Gates Of Hell – Blood – The Beyond – Vultures Circle Overland – All The Colors Of The Dark – The Bloodsucker Leads The Dance

Band: Anders Manga (Vocals, Guitar, Bass) – Devallia (Keyboards/Organ)

BLOODY HAMMERS LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

THE HORRIFIC CASE OF BLOODY HAMMERS – ITUNES

Category: CD Reviews