Bloodhammer
Ancient Kings
[Northern Heritage]
Bloodhammer is one of the bands that comprise the "Northern Heritage"
family of black metal bands from Finland/Scandinavia, along with Warloghe,
Pest, Nightside, Clandestine Blaze, and others. This disc is a CD issue of
their "Ancient Kings" 10" mini-LP (originally released on Hostile
Regression) plus four bonus tracks unique to the CD. There is no listing
of recording information, but judging from the sound it is either an old
demo or a rehearsal tape. But more on that in a minute...
The style of black metal Bloodhammer plays is very much in the OLD school. Not Darkthrone or Countess - I mean like Venom and Hellhammer; in spirit, that is. Musically it could be compared to Hellhammer, but not quite in the same way as Darkthrone could. Imagine Hellhammer playing more thrashy stuff, not quite as sloppy, and with a very skilled and much faster drummer. The riffs are straightforward power-chord progressions, fairly crude and simple but quick and well-executed (and no time wasted on solos), and the supporting drumming is excellent - there's a lot of beat variation, quick changes, and intricate sub-rhythms with the kick drums and the ride/hi-hat cymbals. The production fortunately plays up the strengths - the drums and guitars are side-by-side right up front in the mix, sounding full and dry, with little reverb. The vocals take on a throaty rasp that sounds familiar, but I can't quite put my finger on who it reminds me of. Unfortunately, they are sort-of lost in the middle of the mix, as is the bass.
The four bonus tracks, as I mentioned before, are from either a demo or rehearsal tape. The drums are still up-front and pretty clean sounding, but the guitar tone is thinner and gets a bit lost in the mix (as do the vocals, again). Only one of these songs is a repeat from the album proper ("Hellborn Fire"), with the other three being more of the same (though the first one, "In Cold Blood", sports a chaotic-but-fitting guitar solo).
Hot spots on the album are the aforementioned "Hellborn Fire" (both versions, actually) and "In Cold Blood", as well as the midpaced rocker "Venom For God", the thrashing "Holocaust in Heaven", and the opener "Masters of Alcohol". And I deliberately mentioned that one last - see, it's that song, plus the scrawled statements "Kill the Posers" and "Play it Loud, Sucker" on the cover that really cement their old-school stylings and sum up the band (and the reason I like and highly recommend them) in a nutshell. Sure, I'm all for ideology in music, but if the music gets lost in philosophical rantings what's the point? If you want philosophy, buy a book by Nietzche; if you want some great fucking fist-in-the-air old-school Black *METAL*, buy Bloodhammer!
© 2000 lord vic
The style of black metal Bloodhammer plays is very much in the OLD school. Not Darkthrone or Countess - I mean like Venom and Hellhammer; in spirit, that is. Musically it could be compared to Hellhammer, but not quite in the same way as Darkthrone could. Imagine Hellhammer playing more thrashy stuff, not quite as sloppy, and with a very skilled and much faster drummer. The riffs are straightforward power-chord progressions, fairly crude and simple but quick and well-executed (and no time wasted on solos), and the supporting drumming is excellent - there's a lot of beat variation, quick changes, and intricate sub-rhythms with the kick drums and the ride/hi-hat cymbals. The production fortunately plays up the strengths - the drums and guitars are side-by-side right up front in the mix, sounding full and dry, with little reverb. The vocals take on a throaty rasp that sounds familiar, but I can't quite put my finger on who it reminds me of. Unfortunately, they are sort-of lost in the middle of the mix, as is the bass.
The four bonus tracks, as I mentioned before, are from either a demo or rehearsal tape. The drums are still up-front and pretty clean sounding, but the guitar tone is thinner and gets a bit lost in the mix (as do the vocals, again). Only one of these songs is a repeat from the album proper ("Hellborn Fire"), with the other three being more of the same (though the first one, "In Cold Blood", sports a chaotic-but-fitting guitar solo).
Hot spots on the album are the aforementioned "Hellborn Fire" (both versions, actually) and "In Cold Blood", as well as the midpaced rocker "Venom For God", the thrashing "Holocaust in Heaven", and the opener "Masters of Alcohol". And I deliberately mentioned that one last - see, it's that song, plus the scrawled statements "Kill the Posers" and "Play it Loud, Sucker" on the cover that really cement their old-school stylings and sum up the band (and the reason I like and highly recommend them) in a nutshell. Sure, I'm all for ideology in music, but if the music gets lost in philosophical rantings what's the point? If you want philosophy, buy a book by Nietzche; if you want some great fucking fist-in-the-air old-school Black *METAL*, buy Bloodhammer!
© 2000 lord vic