Review of Bloodhammer - Ancient Kings

This Finnish black metal band play primitive “raw grim black thrash”, and it’s nothing we have not heard before, and usually done better as well. Take the best of Bathory, Darkthrone and Mayhem and remove those aspects of the music, Bloodhammer is what’s left. Advertising such inventive slogans as “play it loud, sucker!!” and “kill the posers”, these guys are either being satirical or just plain bad. Ancient Kings is an uninspired rehash with poor sound and repetitive rhythms. Even the ‘evil’ vocals are tame. It lacks intensity and brutality. The music is not even aggressive. Song intros are simple distortions and song endings consist of speeding up for a few seconds and then stopping abruptly. With songs like “Masters of Alcohol”, “I’m Your Hell”, and “Total End”, these guys are the tamest black metal band ever. On the positive side, at 32 minutes long, this album is mercifully short.