Artist: Ringworm
Album: Hammer of the Witch
Source: http://exclaim.ca/MusicVideo/ClickHear/ringworm-hammer_of_witch_album_stream
Pre-listening Notes: Christmas time 1993, I was taken down to a record shop and I picked out a couple cd's for my sister to give to me on Christmas. One was Endpoint - Catharsis and the other was Ringworm - The Promise. The Endpoint album has not stood the test of time for me, but The Promise is still so awesome, aggressive, brutal, fast, blistering, and punk as all hell as the day I first put it on and heard "There is no god" before the intro track Numb kicked me in the teeth. Ringworm broke up sometime in the next year and I never thought I would see them or get to hear anything other than the LP and the other songs floating around (you know, pre internet, so on tapes). Then about five years later, they got back together and I've spent the last fifteen years loving every album they've put out and seeing them any time they've come through the area. I thought the last album on Victory was pretty awesome, so I'm super excited that they are now signed to Relapse. Here goes!
Initial Reaction: Opens with a some serious riffing. Oh man, the Human Furnace's vocals still sound so brutal and great after all these years. Unlike another vocalist from Cleveland who I feel has gotten weaker over the years. This is fast, as it should be. It's fast, it's heavy, it makes you want to go out and run around punching everything in sight. It's perfect!
Random Thoughts: I love the thrashiness. The songs sound like they would fit on anything they've released before. Awesome bass intro on the song Leave Your Skin at the Door. Great breakdown in this song. Very few bands can match the intensity of this band in the metallic hardcore world. Awesome drumming, great solos, and the most pissed off sounding vocalist. Unless this breaks down into garbage in the middle of the album, this is clearly another win for an already legendary band. Such an awesome ending to Exit Life, with a blast beat. The solo in King of Blood is so great, fast and ripping. Love bands who don't drag out songs any longer than they have to. One of Us is Going to Have to Die is so heavy and is just so classic Ringworm sounding.
Final Reaction: This was awesome. This was everything that a good metal, or hardcore, record should be. Fast, brutal, unrelenting, pissed off, and all the other descriptive words I am feeling right now. I came out the other end super pumped up and I am going to listen to a bunch of Ringworm at work tomorrow because of this. If you like aggressive music, just listen to this.
Final Grade: 8.5/10
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