ALBUM REVIEW: Trapped – Hammer
While we are all well aware of the axiom ‘Don’t judge a book by it’s cover,’ it doesn’t stop people doing just that. The same is true when it comes to band names. Certain names conjure up mental imagery that identifies the sort of sounds that can be expected once the play button is pushed. HAMMER, for example, does not depict subtlety or grand melodies. It is a brute force tool and therefore the music would have something akin to this. The Edinburgh five-piece sporting this moniker have absolutely encapsulated this identity on their album Trapped. There is no mistaking what they’re seeking to deliver with seven tracks of visceral, uncompromising extreme metal. It is blunt and to the point. However, returning to the concept of not judging on first impressions, there is a wealth of technical complexity just under the surface.
Swinging hard as a statement of intent is opening track .Mea Culpa. A storming cacophony that delivers the identity of HAMMER in style. Punishing riffs, pounding rhythms and guttural vocals all jockey for space in what is an unrelenting wall of sound. This is a serious introduction and it is clear that HAMMER are not here to mess about. They’ve locked in as a five-piece and are intent on showcasing their abilities. The blackened death fashioning of the delivery offers a scope for providing low end extreme metal, yet they are happy to explore outside of any confines they find themselves in.
The excellently titled Trapped In A House With A Maniac, delivers the same unfettered brutality as the opening track, yet they’re happy to throw additional elements into the mix. The melodies they slot in alongside the filth encrusted riffs don’t offer a reprieve from the weight. Rather they bolster the intensity of the pummelling sound. It’s a mix that they’ve executed to perfection. The rapid pace and breakdowns provide catchy moments, but it’s not a tune one would find themselves whistling. This is the kind of hook that rips into the ears and refuses to relinquish its grip until it’s done with you.
There is no respite in this album. Each track leads into the neck without pause for breath. Yet, by adding and changing stylistic elements, HAMMER keep the whole thing sounding fresh. Each track has a distinct identity. Golem stands out as a moment of pure riff driven joy. Yet it is sufficiently different from the powerhouse of The Hanged Man. However, the whole record has an unmistakable unity to it and will surely earmark HAMMER as a band to watch on their ascension. They blended the finer elements of straightforward blast beats and unrelenting power with technicalities that showcase the strength of musicianship involved. What may at first appear to be simple in it’s battering delivery has in fact got multiple layers of intricacy and much more to offer.
Ferocious in its forthright intent, Trapped rattles by at a breathless and neck aching pace. It’s brutal and punishing in all the ways that fans of the genre will enjoy, however, the song writing and musicianship is exemplary. Executing moments of dexterous melody to generate hooks that bolster the heavyweight riffs and pounding rhythms. Despite its inexorable chaotic nature, Trapped is a wonderfully accessible album for a wide range of audiences to enjoy. While it is the aural equivalent of an unregulated rage room, it is entertaining and cathartic from start to finish. HAMMER are guaranteed to leave a big, tooth chipped grin on the faces of all who encounter them.
Rating: 8/10
Trapped is available now via self-release.
Like HAMMER on Facebook.