Release Date: August 09th 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD
Scorched Earth Prophets - Track Listing:
1.Scorched Earth Profits 03:33
2.Wrath of Cyans 03:11
3.Impartial Agenda 05:00
4.Vexillological Fixation 02:44
5.Unmerciful Sisters 01:17
6.Curse of the Crimson Altar 05:26
7.Crisis Generator 03:00
8.Hangman's Fracture 03:13
9.Passage to the Afterworld 03:45
10.Desolate Malaise 04:04
11.Brain Turbulence 01:41
12.Irregularities 07:59
Line-up:
ROSS - Guitar
DAVE - Bass
BAGGY - Vocal
JONNY - Drums
Review
Scorched Earth Prophets is the new album from Death/Doom/Sludge Metallers Fuckhammer who bring an extreme level of demonic metal madness to their music with the band adding elements of Crust and Grindcore to their music. There is still a deep reliance on grind/sludge metal sounds taken from their supremely enjoyable 2013 debut album but this time seeing the band branching into areas of NOLA and Southern Metal. This allows Fuckhammer to play a similar sound to EYEHATEGOD with it’s constant barrage misery and filth that’s buried within the subtle harsh leaning guitars.
There’s nothing too groundbreaking on the record but Fuckhammer are supremely talented at delivering catchy and heavy extreme sludge/grind/death grooves that have a sense of melody, progression and action behind them especially on the opening tracks of Scorched Earth Prophets, Wrath Of Cyans and Impartial Agenda.
The lyrics have a disgusting filthy quality to them which allows them to be on the more extreme side of Doom/Death Metal and BAGGY’s vocals never cease to disappoint as I’m a huge fan of his work with his previous band WAR IRON. BAGGY’s vocals have the classic style of Death Metal delivery where they can be very hard to understand at first but this allows you to concentrate more on what is actually being sung which becomes more easier as the record progresses naturally.
Fuckhammer are made up of core established veterans of the Belfast, Northern Ireland Heavy Metal scene. These guys have been part of some of the most important underground heavy metal bands of the last twenty years so they know a thing or two about delivering a lean sounding riff. There are moments of the album which sees the band leave the Death/Grind aspect behind and play a classic mix of Prog Metal, Thrash Metal and Groove Metal with some epic beatdowns along the way.
The record seems to be inspired by the classic works of Metallica, DEATH, GOJIRA, EYEHATEGOD, Pantera and other classic Heavy Metal bands but Fuckahmmer give it their own creative spin with their Grindcore and Doom Metal antics becoming more part of the action on tracks such as: Curse Of The Crimson Altar, Hangman’s Fracture, Desolate Malaise and Irregularities.
I have to give Fuckhammer credit by injecting some creepy DOOM & GLOOM soundbytes into the mix for certain parts of the album which elevates the record into pure DOOM METAL territory which is quite rare for an Extreme Metal album such as this but it’s a cool instance of some highly original creative thoughts and ideas being added into the album.
Scorched Earth Prophets is a superbly produced musical adventure into the more extreme side of Heavy Metal with Fuckhammer delivering some fantastic technically impressive instrumental moments along the way especially with their blistering rhythm section from Dave and Jonny on Bass and Guitar respectively impressing myself the most. Though, the epic guitar shredding from Ross is worth a great mention as well.
Overall, Scorched Earth Prophets is a damn good record with a huge sounding destructive appetite which should keep the horde of Extreme Metal and Heavy Metal fans impressed until the violent end.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
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