CD review BLOODY HAMMERS "Bloodletting Sort of Death"

(8/10) Bloody Hammers are delivering new albums on a constant base. The first three ones came within a period of three years and the forth one is on it’s way. “Bloodletting Sort of Death” is the name of this record and it took the guys from North Carolina two years to finalize the production.

It’s not only the rhythm of releases that changed; it’s also Bloody Hammers’ sound. So far we have been used to 70’s classic rock that came with a larger occult component, merging all this with some stoner rock and quite some gothic.

This time Bloody Hammers sound is darker and more intense. The fact that the songwriting started during wintertime is probably one reason for this. Also the gothic elements became much more dominant, which gives “Bloodletting Sort of Kiss” a slightly different vibe than what we heard on the predecessors. Things became much more atmospheric on the new album, which, I think, sounds pretty good.

“Bloodletting on the Kiss” brings you in the right mood. The tune is slow and shows Bloody Hammers at its best. It’s a really gloomy number that lives and dies by the vocals of Anders Manga. It feels like Lake Of Tears meets Sisters Of Mercy meets Nick Cave. This track could become a ‘small’ hit in each indie club and it’s a cool opener for an exciting album.

The slow pace continues with “Light Come Alive”. It’s actually coming with a similar expression as the opener, which makes it to another dark experience with some harder breakouts in the chorus.

I guess that the guys heard some Tiamat since “The Reaper Comes” shows some cross-reference to the later days of Johan Edlund &Co.. A strong bassline opens the doors to “Messalina”. It’s rhythmic driven number that comes closer to the earlier releases.

A tune that brings together history and the here and now is “Stroke the Fire”. I have to pick-up again the Sisters Of Mercy comparison from earlier since this track could be almost from “Vision Thing”.

“Ether” unveils the doom passion while “Shadow Out of Time” is a slow dirge with a lot of grayness included.

“Astral Traveler” brings back speed and the closer “Catastrophe” is build on a bitter sweet expression that covers the musical world in gloomy shades.

“Lovely Sort of Death” is an album that is build on depth and emotion rather than on simply riffs that lead to immediate headbanging. This longplayer is entertaining from the very first note with an embedded need to listen more often to it. Bloody Hammers provide you with some emotional darkness as a counterpart to a hot summer day, an album that makes you closing the blinds, light the candles and press ‘play’.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Bloodletting on the Kiss
2. Lights Come Alive
3. The Reaper Comes
4. Messalina
5. Infinite Gaze to the Sun
6. Stoke the Fire
7. Ether
8. Shadow Out of Time
9. Astral Traveler
10. Catastrophe

Label: Napalm Records

Genre: Gothic Metal

Release Date EU: August 5th, 2016