ALBUM REVIEW: The Summoning – Bloody Hammers

Since 2012, BLOODY HAMMERS have been living the goth rock life with three albums and an EP under their belt so far. As their fourth album, The Summoning is about to come out, there are high expectations from the duo with what they bring out next. Will it be something that blows the genre out of the water, or will they stay in the safe zone by sticking to their previous albums’ sound?

For newcomers to this band and those unsure if this is the album for them, it is surprising to hear that vocalist Anders Manga utilising a clean vocal style for the music. However, this is something that should be commended as it brings a difference to the music-scape as it’s unexpected but definitely welcomed. The lyrics matched with these vocals, especially with the strength in songs like Let Sleeping Corpses Lie, Now The Screaming Starts, and Fire In The Dark. In something like Welcome To Darkness, the vocals sound reminiscent to the likes of Peter Steele, but with the added essence that makes it BLOODY HAMMERS. In something like Tales That Witness Madness and Condemned, The Prisoner, the vocals and lyrics are strong together but are made even more powerful with the backing vocals. Together, it makes the song sound much richer, and that element sends chills down the listener’s spine, creating goosebumps. That seems fitting for a goth rock album, that rich sound that encompasses doom and strength from the vocals and lyrics, and it’s done very well here in this record.

Music wise, it’s certainly dark, yet comforting, gloomy and dark, but in something like The Beast Is Coming Out, it’s needed. It adds a mysterious but lush tone to the atmospheric nature of the album. It captures the gothic genre the duo is looking for, and it’s eloquently beautiful in every aspect. Even then, there are additional layers of instrumentation, for example, the synthesisers in The Summoning, inspired by their influences, THE SISTERS OF MERCY. From Let Sleeping Corpses Lie to Unbreakable, 10 tracks do not do enough justice to how great that all the elements put together in this album are. Guitar riffs, like in Let Sleeping Corpses Lie, Now The Screaming Starts, and From Beyond The Grave, are a stand out in the talent on display. It examples how intricate even the tiniest of elements are in the music, and when brought together, create this fantastic symphony of goth rock that should not be missed to hear.

Overall, The Summoning is a strong addition to the gothic genre, containing some brilliant songs that make the duo stand alongside goth greats like NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS and TYPE O NEGATIVE. The music is easily definable as goth, but it is unique to the sound to identify it as BLOODY HAMMERS. Lyrically strong, instrumentation gloriously rich and vibrant, and the music encompassing all the emotions in one, it is a wonder why this duo isn’t a bigger name when it comes to notable goth rock acts. In short, The Summoning is an album worth hearing and a stand out in an already fantastic year for rock music.

Rating: 9/10

The Summoning is set for release June 28th via Napalm Records. 

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