A lifeless Borg dice drifts aimlessly throughout the huge cosmic ocean. Multitudes of drones are left deactivated, decrepit, unclaimed by the hive thoughts. Left to the stagnant eternity of existence in a spacial sea that so cruelly denies corpses the dignified grace of gradual decay, this deserted dice and its deceased inhabitants nonetheless strike worry in those that bump into it. It’s a place of terror, of conquering, of relentless and heartless assimilation. Hazard lies wherever Borg exercise, previous or current, resides, however there’s a wierd disappointment in the sight of a lifeless dice resembling this. The data that these stolen lives are close to immediately discarded by the very machinations who as soon as coveted them delivers a deadly blow to the soul. It’s these devastating blows which U.Ok. loss of life doom groove metallic band Damnation’s Hammer purpose to ship on third LP Into the Silent Nebula.
Plot twist! Into the Silent Nebula has nothing to do with the Borg, or Star Trek normally (sorry, Cherd). Nevertheless, it is quintessentially Damnation’s Hammer. Onerous to categorize, the UK troupe’s distinctive concoction of Temple of Void/Bolt Thrower loss of life metallic, Triptykon doom, and Clutch-y exhausting rock groove presents an inimitable character that no different band on Earth boasts. It’s this distinctive taste that earned predecessor Unseen Planets, Lethal Spheres a excessive score from yours really. Fortunately, not a lot has modified save for the addition of some desert-dwelling notes pulled from the Messa playbook (“The Silent Nebula”). At its core, Into the Silent Nebula is a clinic in exhausting-hitting, tectonic riff-craft, whereas the surrounding songwriting swagger goads huge burly leather-based-certain biker boys to purchase one other spherical for the bar. Damnation’s Hammer make the most of their knack for writing dreary doom marches as the document transitions to a darker second act, with their trademarked whiskey-soaked bark motivating the document all the method via to a lonely conclusion.
That conclusion wraps up ten minutes sooner than Unseen Planets’, marking simply certainly one of the methods Damnation’s Hammer tightened issues up right here. Highlights like “Sutter Cane,” “Do Not Disturb the Watchmaker,” the title observe, and “The Name of the Void” destroy all the things of their path and waste no time gettin’ to it. Chunky, rollicking hooks, screaming leads and crushing riffs incur a barrage of blunt power trauma instantly onto the tender meat between my two ears, leaving lasting marks in the aftermath. Regular in tempo however improbably heavy and impossibly momentous, groovy tunes like “Outpost 31” and “The Moon and the Waters of Demise” drive the document inexorably ahead with equal momentum, regardless of the former’s penchant for deathly wiolence contrasting with the latter’s bluesy dirge. It’s that constant vitality and energy that makes resisting Damnation’s Hammer futile. Moreover, although Unseen Planets didn’t notably need for an editor, the forty-two minute Into the Silent Nebula cuts a lean and imply determine, making this document insanely straightforward to revisit.
Easy, efficient songwriting wins the day most of the time for Damnation’s Hammer, however there are some new issues in relation to development in execution. For a lot of bands, sticking to what they do finest is rarely the improper transfer, however Damnation’s Hammer made the mistake of teasing one thing extra—that aforementioned Messa-like desert ambiance—with out following via. Instrumental “The Silent Nebula” makes use of its place at lifeless middle of the document to trace at one thing contemporary and spicy that, sadly, by no means developed, leaving me feeling considerably underwhelmed by the in any other case strong content material on the again finish (save for the ineffective second interlude “The Hex IV”). As a closing nitpick, the use of samples and film quotes scattered sometimes all through takes away from moments that most likely would’ve been extra impactful with out them (“Outpost 31”). These inclusions, sadly, really feel particularly flimsy when in comparison with the band’s sturdy, authentic lyrical content material.
Regardless of my criticisms, Into the Silent Nebula is an extremely straightforward document to spin, and even simpler to take pleasure in. There’s an unmitigated flood of killer riffs, groovy rhythms, and glorious pacing to behold. Had been it not for just a few odd lyrical and sampling decisions and the promise of one thing larger that by no means got here, I’d fortunately charge it extra extremely. That being stated, if you happen to like riffs and hella groove, Damnation’s Hammer received the items.
Score: Good.
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Bloodbath Data
Web sites: damnationshammer.co.uk | damnationshammer.bandcamp.com
Releases Worldwide: September 15th, 2023