While America was thrashing it up in the 1980s, an equally burgeoning scene was taking the Great White North by storm. Bands like Razor, Slaughter, and Infernäl Mäjesty bubbled under the underground, creating albums that made even the most diehard American thrashers run for cover. Then there were the bands who released demos in hopes it’d cause a ripple effect and generate interest from the major labels of the time (Metal Blade, Combat, New Renaissance). One of those bands was Witches Hammer…until now.
Over 35 years since their formation, Witches Hammer have finally unleashed their debut full length, Damnation is My Salvation. The cult thrash metal horde released a string of demos in the 1980s, only to fade into obscurity. After decades of dormancy, singer Rayy Crude and guitarist Marco Banco reassembled the band. With this reformation came a new sense of brutality, vengeance, and outright hatred which is proudly on display in the form of 5 new songs and 3 re-recordings.
Besides time past, the biggest difference between then and now is Witches Hammer have become more extreme. While their peers cozy up to mid tempo mainstream rock songs and goofy groove metal riffs, Witches Hammer utilizes blastbeats and tremolo picking on “Across Azeroth” and “Solar Winds”. A raw, lo-fi production adds to Damnation‘s black metal edge. Banco’s time with war metal maniacs Blasphemy was brief (1989-1991), but clearly left an impact all these years later.
The title track and “Within the Halls” are more straightforward thrashers. Both kick off with mosh worthy mid tempo riffs before going full steam ahead. The riffs, solos, and song structures maintain that old school chaos of early Slayer and Destruction. Speaking of old school, the next few tracks are exactly that. “Frozen God / Witches Hammer” first appeared on Witches Hammer’s namesake 1985 demo. It differs from the original in that the black metal edge makes this version sound even more violent. Imagine early Metallica possessed by Quorthon. Meanwhile, “Deadly Mantis” is as punky and pissed off as when it appeared on their 1987 demo.
Now it’s time to dust off your bullet belt, spikes, and dark sunglasses! On an album of infernal, hellripping songs, “Nine Pillars” is the most infernal and hellripping. This nearly 7 minute song sounds like Banco had been keeping it in his back pocket since his Blasphemy days. It’s total war and the perfect way to close Damnation.
Witches Hammer knows damn well what a special era the 80s were for extreme metal. They lived it! The days of tape trading, fanzines, and wondering if King Diamond actually lived in an abandoned castle may be a distant memory. But Damnation does a hellacious job keeping that spirit alive in the hearts and souls of likeminded maniacs throughout metal’s subterranean.
7 out of 10
Label: Nuclear War Now! Productions
Genre: Black/Thrash Metal
For fans of: Sodom, Blasphemy, Slayer