Northern Heritage records is certainly now the best black metal label coming from Scandinavia, even if they have a deal with Cybertzara / Blackmetal.com records (which could be enough to kill a label's fame). Moonfog has turned into Moonfag and all its bands revealed themselves as faggots (SATYRICON, DODHEIMSGARD, THORNS... the mighty DARKTHRONE still try to survive, but how long now before they die too ?), whereas Northern Heritage has become a great & respected underground label, with such bands as CLANDESTINE BLAZE(fin), DEATHSPELL OMEGA(fra), SATANIC WARMASTER(fin) & BLOODHAMMER(fin).

BLOODHAMMER plays excellent black/thrash metal influenced by gods as BATHORY, CELTIC FROST or DARKTHRONE ("Panzerfaust" era), and with such titles as "Masters of alcohol" or "Venom for God", you'll understand they want to pay a tribute to the old bands who created the ancient spirit of black metal. The best comparison for BLOODHAMMER, with a "recent" band would be DECAYED. It's a bit the same kind of attitude, and there are numerous other similarities between both bands, even if I prefer BLOODHAMMER, who don't use any drum machine "ala DECAYED", and who have a better sound (at hearing any track you know it's a northern band). Even the artwork is a killer, so if you can get this CD, buy it ! There is also a MLP version of this recording, out on Hostile Regression Records, I think it was limited to 1000 copies, but the CD version (also limited to 1000, as all Northern Heritage CD releases) contains 4 bonus tracks (I guess they are demo or unmixed version tracks).

Hostile regression Records : PL 37, 55801 IMATRA, FINLAND

Northern Heritage records : PL 21, 15141 LAHTI, Finland

Kill the posers !

8/10

© 2002 lord pesten