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Review: Black Steel - Hellhammer
Black Steel
www.facebook.com/blacksteelband
Hellhammer

Label: Steelheart Records
Year released: 2005
Duration: 54:20
Tracks: 11
Genre: Heavy/Power Metal

Rating:
4.75/5


Review online: January 29, 2021
Reviewed by: Michel Renaud
Readers' Rating
How do you rate this release?

Rated 4.5/5 (90%) (8 Votes)
Review

Hellhammer is Black Steel's second and so far, latest, full-length album. It's been 16 years without a new album, but apparently the Australian band is still active. I really liked their debut, Destructor, and this one here is very much in the same vein, only heavier and crunchier with the aggressiveness cranked up a few notches. The band's brand of heavy metal is very much rooted in the old school, but they brought in the modern (for 2005) power metal sound to send the melodic aspect through the roof, especially for the insanely catchy and melodic vocal lines that are guaranteed to stick in your head for a long time—I had not listened to this album and its predecessor in years and the vocal lines and melodies still pop in my head, out of nowhere, from time to time (that's how I ended up digging this one out recently.) I find that the vocalist has a better control of his voice on this album, and the vocal lines fit the songs better, whereas on Destructor some of the vocal lines, while good, sometimes clashed a little with the music. If you like your heavy metal melodic, yet crunchy, heavy and above all catchy and don't mind some cheesiness not unlike that of Manowar or Black Steel country mates Pegazus, Hellhammer is definitely worth checking out. Lots of fun.

More about Black Steel...
Review: Battle Call (reviewed by Michel Renaud)
Review: Destructor (reviewed by Michel Renaud)
Interview with Dave Harrison (bass) on February 16, 2003 (Interviewed by Michel Renaud)
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