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Addictive and authentic heavy metal hard rock from South America
Hailing from Peru Natthammer is a band and a namesake of the vocalist Fatima Natthammer and this sophomore album contains a helluva of heavy metal anthems that is imperative for die-hard fans worldwide.
Don’t Burn the Witch open up the album with a great chorus, packed axework and irresistible cadence but this is definitely not the main song of the album as the second one called Steel Warrior lives up to its name and reveals a superband that for times remember Iron Maiden and other NWOBHM bands, but the potent voice of Fatima is what gets everyone by assault! I mean, this is enjoyable to the full, concise, and there is a power inside it that explodes like a nuclear bomb. Totally not indicated if you are into modern metal.
Although Evil Nightmare has a hint of speed metal, the song is mid-tempo actually and over again the voice of Fatima gives legitimate metal fans goosebumps (where was this girl all this time????). Difficult to say if this song is the best of the album but words cannot describe how potent, intense, and touching this song and its chorus is. Superb for a somewhat new heavy metal band. Solos are great as well and it just adds to the final product. Anthemic to say at least.
Now Guard of Light shows up potency and speed/power metal velocity that will not let the fans down. Over again not re-inventing the whole heavy metal style but adding a striking and poignant energy into it, that’s exactly what this song is. The resolve in Fatima’s voice is just a thing to be admired and needless t say that it gives the listener an extra dose of excitement. Yes, it is THIS GOOD!
If you can imagine Manowar marrying Iron Maiden than maybe you can get the epiphany behind the song The Traitor With Lizard Eyes. It’s basic and it’s cool. True metal fans don’t need more than the basic to be happy. Go away poser!
Queen of Acid Skies shows the great trick in this album that is: when a song enters, and the voice starts one can imagine: well, this song is not going to be better than the last one and maybe this is the low point to the album. But over again Miss Natthammer inverts the logic and over again the power and the glory is there. It sounds like a magic formula that never fails. Powerful solos over again take the listener by assault.
Visionary is a bona fide hard rock ballad to close the album but at some point of the song it becomes a very strong and robust heavy metal. And a paradox really appears: Even with this fast part the song doesn’t lose this original intention.
The Hammer Of The Witch is not an EP but it’s 7-song-35-minute approach for sure never wears out its welcome and the disc ends in a high note. Plus, this album is the crème-de-la-crème of authentic heavy metal. I don’t know what else a band needs to do to be considered cool to the kids. I’m old school, I stay with this album, please and thank you.
The Hammer Of The Witch is going to be out on April 30th on digital, vinyl and cd on Black Legion (Peru) Records and Ultraviolencia Label & Distro (Spain)
Rating: 8,5/10
More about this band can be found at:
Roderick Blutrache
Dark Souls United 