Bloody Hammers: Songs of Unspeakable Terror (2021) – By Baron Craze

Honestly, for me every day is Halloween, and a big fan of horror-punk music with this most interesting band hailing from Transylvania County, North Carolina, whose name was inspired from a Roky Erickson song. The band itself is primarily a gothic couple Anders Manga and Devillia, returning for their sixth album, filled with their passion for horror flicks and heavy metal. ‘Songs of Unspeakable Terror’ emerged out of a series of jamming sessions due to confines enforced by the COVID-19 shutdown; through Napalm Records on January 15, 2021.

The songs have the typical length of three and half minutes which push a fresh tempo and horror-filled delight, though it leans more to a horror rock than true punk chaos energy. Leading off the album is “A Night to Dismember” a fast-paced with a solid groove and not an ode to the movie of the same name but rather a collection of b-movies that could fueled a Saturday evening. The second track “Hands of the Ripper” has clearly taken inspiration from Black sabbath, hints of classic doom but good spook-show lyrics as it references the film of the same name from 1971. A key aspect of the enjoyable track “Waking the Dead” is the fun chorus, but it is imagined that unruly teens awaken then dead who were buried beneath the parking lot of the drive-in theater coming back for the classic zombie tale. Another great song is “Night of The Witch” which just delivers on all levels, it allows one to recall why we love this niche subgenre of horror-punk so much. “Lucifer’s Light”, is the tenth song, and the longest on the album, but it is also the most different the other tracks. It opens with an acoustic set, as if someone were strolling through a cemetery on a tranquil Sunday. However, listening deeper reveals a more occult reference, focuses on leaving one world ‘s repetitive cycle and embarking alternative realm. Great layering of synth playing and atmospheric suggestions to follow the seduction. The final track, “I Spit on Your Corpse” brings a good finish to the 2021 release, as the song is dreaming about someone you seriously dislike finally croaks. A lifetime of waiting for that individual who wronged in whatever manner meets a brutal end, and you rejoice on the grave. The drumming and vocals rock with that Bloody Hammers’ core fever-pitched horror imagery.

Track Listing:
1. A Night to Dismember
2. Hands of the Ripper
3. Witchfinder General
4. Not of this Earth
5. The Ones Who Own the Dark
6. Waking the Dead
7. Night of the Witch
8. We are the Damned
9. The Brain that Wouldn’t Die
10. Lucifer’s Light
11. I Spit on Your Corpse

Band Members:

Devallia – Bass

Anders Manga – Vocals, Guitars, Drums

If you are a faithful fan of Grave Robber, Wednesday 13, and the Misfits, then you aware of the consistent effort put forth by Bloody Hammers. As for the positives, it has all the standard hooks found in horror punk, gothic doom-laden tracks with fun choruses. Only a few songs do not quite live up although still interesting take on the inspiration that is nestle into the 60s and 70s era of b-movie horror created as anthems for fans of the band to thoroughly enjoy.

Baron’s Rating: 3.5/5.0

Band’s Links:

http://bloodyhammers.bandcamp.com/

http://www.bloodyhammers.com/

https://bloodyhammers.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BloodyHammers/