CD Review - Bloody Hammers-"Spiritual Relics" (2013 Bloody Hammers)

Bloody Hammers-"Spiritual Relics" (2013 Bloody Hammers)

Bloody Hammers released their self titled debut last November. While waiting for shows to booked and bring their bad assery to the masses, they were writing and recording what would become "Spiritual Relics". When I heard the "Bloody Hammers" album I was absolutely blown away. Many doom experts said it was pretty generic, lacked structure, and left a lot to be desired. I agree it did leave a lot to be desire.....another record. Experts and fans alike have this idea  of what doom is supposed to be or sound like. Bloody Hammers have done things their own way. With all genres of metal, sometimes the simple things are what makes a song or record great. Are Bloody Hammers drastically changing doom or music in general? Hell no they are not. I hate when things are thought out too much and over analyzed. Bloody Hammers are straight up bad asses!

Emotion and feeling is what makes great music. Doom is no different. Hammers definitely have the fuzzy distorted doom riffs. The bass and drums are low and move at a methodical pace.Guitarist Zoltan adds to the fuzz with his own dirty southern flavor. The organ adds a looming eerie feeling throughout the entire album, which adds to the horror occult vibe that is prominent from the beginning! There are upbeat tempos and songs that move at a quicker pace, while all offerings have a clear groove that is something different for such a morose, downtrodden genre. Anders vocals are filled with emotion and his range adds to the offering as a whole, all while holding down the rumbling thunder. Add in elements of goth, like Cemetary's classic release "Sundown", and the depression becomes beautiful. 

The only thing I say to those who say, "nothing special", "lack of monster guitars", is listen to tracks like "What's Haunting You', and "At the Well of Nazareth" The distortion and emotion adds to the aura  that I love about Bloody Hammers. The creepy organ ads the mystique of being terrified in the woods in the early 70's. The vocals are the thing that ties it together for me. You can feel the emotion in Ander's voice as it comes through the speakers to offer you a tissue to dry your tears! I can hear a lot of the gothier Cemetary, thrown in with solid thickCandlemass riffs. I give "Spiritual Relics" a solid 9 out of ten. I say doom on to the Goth Doom, Sludge Lords of the occult!

Tracklist:

1- What's Haunting You

2- At the Well of Nazareth

3-  The Transit Begins

4- The Source

5- Color Me Blood Red

6- Night of the Long Knives

7- Shiver

8- Flesh of the Lotus

9- Path of Sorrows

10- Science Fiction