Hammers of Misfortune - The Locust Years
- Released: 2006
- Label: Cruz Del Sur Music
- Rating:
I can remember very vividly when I first started hearing about Hammers of Misfortune. I was reading various year-end polls in metal magazines and several writers were praising the bands’ second release The August Engine, almost to a unanimous fault. I, however, had never HEARD of HOM at that point, so naturally, this band, who seemed to be somewhat of a critics’ darling, piqued my curiousity.
Shortly after that, I obtained the aforementioned CD and quickly found out why everyone was in love with this band! I am pleased to report that the follow-up album The Locust Years follows much of the same receipe as The August Engine. There are elements of true heavy metal, as well as 70’s prog and vocal interplay, from Slough Feg vocalist Mike Scalzi (who does double duty in this band), keyboardist Sigrid Sheie, and bassist Jamie Myers.
The songs are mostly long in nature, thus giving the instruments a lot of room to breathe. One of the things I love about HOM is they do provide a certain amount of musical “hues” throughout. One moment you’ll hear heavy riffing and aggression, such as the kind found on “Trot Out The Dead”, from which the song goes in to the serene yet haunting “Famine’s Lap”, which features piano, acoustic guitar and the aforemention female vocal stylings of Sheie and Myers.
Much credit has to be given to mastermind John Cobbett for plotting out the musical landscape that comprises HOM and also also to drummer Chewy Marzolo for playing to the strengths of the songs and never overplaying his hand. I am knocking off a half point from this album being a perfect “5”, only because I found this album to be a bit too similar to The August Engine. That’s just a minor quibble. That album was such a masterpiece to me, but The Locust Years is certainly a worthy follow up. A lot of metal fans have yet to discover the genius of Hammers of Misfortune and the scene needs more genuine bands like them. Check them out and maybe you’ll fall in love with this band like I and so many others have.
http://www.hammersofmisfortune.com
Metal Mark | 08/04/2006