HAMMR - Unholy Destruction - LP
HAMMR was formed in Cleveland, Ohio by J. Hammer in 2013. As a strictly solo endeavor, HAMMR recorded a full digital-only demos album, which caught the attention of several labels. From there, the band went on to release the Hammr EP in 2015, first digitally and then on cassette tape through Hota Rex, the latter of which quickly sold out. Other plans for releases were delayed due to label managers going to jail as well as the usual financial delays, which led J. Hammer to start releasing demo singles directly to the metal people. It was during this time that he met the folks behind HELLS HEADBANGERS and also DEMONA founder Tanza Speed, who both took a lot of interest in HAMMR. Once he received the offer, J. Hammer decided to hold off on recordings for other labels, and use some of his demos and new material for the imminent debut album, Unholy Destruction.
Ever aptly titled, Unholy Destruction is the grand culmination of the HAMMR aesthetic. Built on a proud foundation of early Bathory, Celtic Frost, Iron Angel, Discharge, early Slayer, Sodom, and Venom, HAMMR lets loose a wild 'n' loose blast of what J. Hammer has dubbed "Satanic speed," which, in his own words, "combines fast speed metal riffing with D-beat drums and relentless arrangements. This isn’t a quick-startup, Lemmy-worshiping metal/punk band that we see a lot of; HAMMR goes for your throat and doesn’t give a fuck about that shit." Indeed it does go for the throat - relentlessly and rabidly, possessing the listener's very body and soul as each galloping charge detonates upon pressing "play." The solos fly fast and free from MIDNIGHT's Commandor Vanik, instilling that very lawlessness so often missing from heavy metal these days. It's raw and rivetheaded to the very end, locating that elusive point between heavy metal glory and hardcore punk fury, and reveling in the moment while simultaneously clutching tightly to rock-solid songwriting. And, above all, it compels - nay, DEMANDS - repeat plays, so total is that possession.
No politics, no party, no drinks: Unholy Destruction is HAMMR's declaration of independence for all the fellow lone-wolves out there. With mixing done by Commandor Vanik and mastering by Toxic Holocaust mainman Joel Grind, Unholy Destruction is bound to be one of the hottest debut albums in recent memory!