Necrohammer

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Band(s): Necrohammer
Label(s): Self-Released
Release Format(s): Demo, Digital
Release Year: 2024
Review Date: October 8, 2024
Author(s): FelixS

Two years ago I stumbled upon this Mexican band playing a vintage sort of Black/Speed Metal that was inspired by all things old and extreme: Venom, Hellhammer, Sodom, Sarcófago and the likes. It has been quiet since the release of that specific EP, but now the band returns with a new demo, that they titled quite fittingly ‘Ancient Metal Holocaust’.

‘Unholy Black Steel’, that previous EP, was not only a great exercise in what Extreme Metal had to offer back in the mid to late-80’s, but it also sounded genuinely old school. With this new demo, just clocking over 15 minutes, the band throws in just all the same of those previous ingredients, yet this time the production is pretty much non-existent.

‘Ancient Metal Holocaust’ is a harsh and crude sounding demo that really seemed to be quite literally dug up out of the mid 80’s. Most likely recorded live in the band’s rehearsal room with just one microphone and recorded directly on tape with zero tweaking. That might scare away a few people, but if you have a weak spot for these old days of exchanging tapes and collecting rehearsal tapes, this is really as genuine and authentic as it gets.

Compared to the previous EP, except for that awesome rehearsal sound, not much has changed. The majority of the music is still pretty much in line with the band’s favourite bands that also found their way to the band’s earlier recordings. So again there is much Hellhammer and Sarcófago going on, consequently ending up sounding not all too far away from the earliest Heretic (The Netherlands) demo tapes – ah, and that Von cover (‘Satanic Blood’) is golden. Yet the careful listener might be able to hear the band trying some new things. First of all, although some of it already surfaced on ‘Unholy Black Steel’, there is quite a bit more melody in the form of lead guitars here and there that do echo some NWOBHM worship. And secondly the band dares to occasionally slow down a notch, cautiously treading on Doom Metal territories, reflecting some of Black Sabbath’s eerie moments.

So, while the majority of the bands put forth some rather well-sounding digital bedroom recordings, I do wholeheartedly praise Necrohammer for doing it the old school way: ultimately raw and fascinatingly unrefined. And, yes, I loved it. It reminded me of those barely listenable tapes that I was so happy to lay my hands on some two decades and a bit ago. So, if you, just like me, love these days of yore, support Necrohammer. Too bad this is not (yet) available on cassette tape…

VM-UNDERGROUND

Extreme Metal Fanzine est. 2012

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Necrohammer – Ancient Metal Holocaust [Demo]

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