Description
Limited edition with a bonus dvd
When there’s a buzz happening about a new band the older and more cynical among us tend to think of ‘hype’. The buzz concerning Gallhammer comes from the fact the trio is all-female, good-looking (in a ghoulish, underfed sort of way) and Japanese, playing a style of music normally associated with male, less good-looking musicians from Northern Europe. Fortunately, Gallhammer pretend to be nothing more than they are: a crust punk / black metal band heavily in debt to Hellhammer (the band) and Celtic Frost. The music, like the band’s stage presence and website, is suitably minimalist. On “The Dawn of …” it romps along agreeably enough with a feel reminiscent of Burzum and Darkthrone, although lacking (sadly) Varg’s and Fenriz’s gift for swingin’ rhythm. The demo sound quality is robust and there’s a go-for-broke chutzpah in most songs. The music has its moments but there’s nothing here that stands out as especially noteworthy. This is particularly the case on the accompanying dvd which offers a large swag of songs from live gigs around Japan, performances ranging from the tedious to the not-too-bad-at-all. The band seems to love Earth-style funeral plod without (again sadly) the American band’s gift for texture. An example is “Endless Nauseous Days”, a candidate for most appropriately titled song of all time. When the band accelerates the tempo, though, the music becomes more engaging. Go straight to the Osaka footage which, despite the grainy vision, is edited from a multi-camera shoot and captures the band at its tightest and most energetic. While the cd, culled from earlier releases, demos and rehearsals is nothing to shout about, what is most evident is Gallhammer’s promise, hence the mark of 65. A good example is “At The Onset Of The Age Of Despair”, a seven-minute funeral dirge. Just as you’re tempted to hit the track advance button, something special starts to emerge from the fog – murky but interesting textures, strange harmonics, a synthesis of ideas and a tightness which augur well for the future. Probably the most distinguishing feature of the band’s performance is that all three members provide distinctively different vocals. Bassist Vivian’s demonic rasp is scarily similar to Varg’s. Guitarist Mika produces a death metal growl out of all proportion to her diminutive size and drummer Risa adds a banshee wail from behind the kit. Put them all together and the result is quite impressive. Check “Crucifixion” on the cd and dvd. Does the world need another band like this? Possibly not, but there’s enough here to suggest that Gallhammer will develop a more original sound and style over future releases.
Track listing:
1. Speed of Blood-Ill Innocence demo 2007
2. Crucifixion-Gloomy Lights rehearsal 2004
3. May Our Father Die-Gloomy Lights rehearsal 2004
4. Aloof and Proud Silence-Gloomy Lights rehearsal 2004
5. Hallucination-Gallhammer demo 2003
6. Selfish Selfless-Gallhammer demo 2003
7. Insane Beautiful Sunnyday Slaughter-demo 2003
8. Beyond the Hatred-Gallhammer demo 2003
9. Friction-Gallhammer demo 2003
10. At the Onset of the Age of Despair-Ill Innocence demo 2007
11. Crucifixion-rehearsal 2006
12. May Our Father Die-rehearsal 2006
Dvd listing:
1. Endless Nauseous Days-live Okayama Pepper Land 29th of July 2005
2. Blind My Eyes-live Okayama Pepper Land 29th of July 2005
3. May Our Father Die-live Okayama Pepper Land 29th of July 2005
4. Song Of Fall-live Okayama Pepper Land 29th of July 2005
5. Hallucination-live Okayama Pepper Land 29th of July 2005
6. Crucifixion-live Okayama Pepper Land 29th of July 2005
7. Song Of Fall-live Tokyo Shinjuku Wall 14th of April 2006
8. Hallucination-live Tokyo Shinjuku Wall 14th of April 2006
9. Blind My Eyes-live Tokyo Shinjuku Wall 14th of April 2006
10. Crucifixion-live Tokyo Shinjuku Wall 14th of April 2006
11. At The Onset Of The Age Of Despair-live Kawasaki Bottoms Up 2nd of May 2006
12. Speed Of Blood-live Kawasaki Bottoms Up 2nd of May 2006
13. Lust Satan Death-live Kawasaki Bottoms Up 2nd of May 2006
14. Beyond The Hate Red-live Kawasaki Bottoms Up 2nd of May 2006
15. Crucifixion-live Osaka Namba Rockets 5th of February 2005
16. Blossom In The Raven River-live Osaka Namba Rockets 5th of February 2005
17. Beyond The Hate Red-live Osaka Namba Rockets 5th of February 2005
18. May Our Father Die-live Osaka Namba Rockets 5th of February 2005
19. Lust Satan Death-live Osaka Namba Rockets 5th of February 2005
20. Endless Nauseous Days-live Tokyo Koiwa M7 7th of July 2006
21. Beyond The Hate Red-live Tokyo Koiwa M7 7th of July 2006
22. Crucifixion-live Tokyo Watts 14th of May 2005
23. Speed Of Blood-live Tokyo Watts 14th of May 2005
24. Hallucination-live Tokyo Watts 14th of May 2005