Bloody Hammers - s/t (2012)

Now here's an album you must here. It seems that over the last few years there has been a revival in '70s influenced rock with many doom style bands paying homage to old horror films and novels. For those of you who dig bands like Ghost, then you'll dig Bloody Hammers too, although they are a different brand of occult weirdness. These US doomsters aren't just obsessed with the Sabbath trip, if anything Bloody Hammers (great cover guys) are a melting pot of rainy '80s Goth (Bauhaus), '80s doom (Pentagram),and a bit of crusty punk - but given a more sinister edge by the almost narrative style of vocal by Anders. I much prefer this style of doom to Electric Wizard and those other gluey dope-influenced acts - this has a real occult edge to it, particularly on the creaky haunted house weirdness of 'Witching Hour' and 'Black Magic' which are both wondrously catchy in their oaken horror. To some extent this is far more simplistic in its approach, and whilst heavy it doesn't opt for boring the listener to death, instead Bloody Hammers act as some spooky soundtrack to all those Dennis Wheatley albums of yesteryear - but again, there is a strong Goth influence here, check out the creeping 'Say Goodbye To The Sun' and the organ drenched 'Fear No Evil'. I can't recommend this fuzzbox of a record enough but it may not appeal to all.
8/10