Hammers of Misfortune

[Fangface]

I'm listening to that band for the first time right now and it kicks my ass so much!

=> http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/hom_tly_mp3/prev_homtly.htm (full song and excerpts from their latest album)

I just love the obvious influences (Thin Lizzy, Brit 70's prog rock, etc.), these warm melodies, vocals, drum fills and atmosphere!

Someone can enlighten me about these guys, discography and so on?
I think I remember Wiz raving about them some time ago...

 

[SoundMaster]

Electric Wyz can fill you in on this band!

They are indeed quite good. I need to delve deeper into their catalogue.

 

[ElectricWiz]

Yeah, Hammers rules. You should try Slough Feg too. Some of the same people in each band.

You should definately look into all the albums (by both bands). Hammers of Misfortune has three - The Locust Years, The August Engine, and The Bastard. All killer. The Bastard is a medievel concept album.

Both bands are from San Francisco....and recently I was walking through the library where I work (SFSU) and bumped into Mike Scalzi, the lead singer/guitar player of both bands. I'd talked to him at shows before, but didn't realize who it was until he'd passed by. I'll say hi next time. He's a Philosophy major (graduate). That's metal.

Anyway, they do local shows from time to time (Hammers doesn't tour much, but Slough Feg does...) They are all nice guys....world class metal. I'm a a big fan.

 

[Dee Snarl]

Isn't there a connection with Ludicra there, as well??

 

[ElectricWiz]

Yeah, John Cobbett of Hammers (and whom was in Slough Feg for a time) is in Ludicra. John does lead vocals on the August Engine actually.....it gets a bit confusing.

First there was The Lord Weird Slough Feg with both John Cobbett and Mike Scalzi. Mike was lead singer, and they both played leads, ala Smith and Murray or Downing and Tipton. Then, John Cobbett formed Hammers on the side, but strangely enough, brought Mike with him, even though they were the main two figures in The Lord Weird Slough Feg. On the first Hammers album Mike sang lead, and pretty much it was like The Lord Weird Slough Feg with two chicks added. THEN, Mike left Hammers for a time, and then came back. John, on the other hand, has left The Lord Weird Slough Feg (now just Slough Feg) permanently. And yet, he played on the last record since they were still trying to replace him. NOW....it seems that even though Mike came back to Hammers to sing on the new one, he's gone for good.....so, in essence, Hammers exists with John as its main head, and Slough Feg with Mike. Weird....plus they both do side projects, ala John in Ludicra.

As to all the switches on singing though, the two sound startlingly alike, and yet unique and different too.....they are both great singers, and though i like Mike A LOT, I prefer John singing in Hammers of Misfortune, such as on the August Engine.

Man, what a drama! Still, as far as I know they have always been friends, just that the two projects have lived a strange life of lineup changes etc. And frankly, I might have some of that wrong.

 

[Jean-Pierre]

Wait wait wait wait...

Mike sings on the "August Engine," are you joking? Cobbet only does some additional vocals on "The Bastard" from what I remember.

Anyway, Hammers of Misfortune has three very different sounding albums. The first is more influenced by black and doom metal, with a very unique edge. The second is very progressive, dark, doomy metal, with a sort of classic metal approach. The third is definitely more influenced by 70's prog, as indicated by the first poster; it's barely a metal album, but it's great.

 

[ElectricWiz]

Wait wait wait wait...

Mike sings on the "August Engine," are you joking? Cobbet only does some additional vocals on "The Bastard" from what I remember.

Anyway, Hammers of Misfortune has three very different sounding albums. The first is more influenced by black and doom metal, with a very unique edge. The second is very progressive, dark, doomy metal, with a sort of classic metal approach. The third is definitely more influenced by 70's prog, as indicated by the first poster; it's barely a metal album, but it's great.

Yeah, I could be confused here....not afraid to admit that. There's a lot of musical chairs going on in those bands. Still, I did think that John sang some lead on August Engine. Maybe not. That's my favorite album of theirs, with the Bastard coming in a VERY close second...and the Locust Years not even having made it into the collection yet...

 

[Fangface]

Thanks for the input guys

I believe I'm already becoming a fan...

 

[Iced Ray]

Great band. The first 2 albums are awesome. The new album is good but a step down.