Hammers of Misfortune venture into darker, heavier territory – News

0719hammersHammers of Misfortune venture into darker, heavier territory

On July 22nd, West Coast progressive heavy metallers Hammers of Misfortune will release their sixth full-length, Dead Revolution, worldwide via Metal Blade Records.

Recorded at Light Rail Studios in San Francisco, CA, Dead Revolution is more varied than its predecessor (2011’s acclaimed 17th Street), by using different tones, and delving into heavier, darker territory. With tracks like the stupendous “The Precipice”, the raging “Flying Alone”, and the riff-organ fest that is “Dead Revolution”, Hammers of Misfortune have found a way to indulge their progressive and psychedelic tendencies while remaining decidedly metal. That’s not to say Dead Revolution is without its slow-burners: “Here Comes the Sky” pivots off a Pink Floyd axis (think “A Pillow in the Wind”) – with its soft strums, careful vocal interplay, and delicate percussion – before diving into traditional heavy metal motifs. “Of course, every song stands out to me,” says principal songwriter and guitarist John Cobbett. “I’ve no idea how listeners will react to them. ‘The Velvet Inquisition’ is probably one of the most ambitious compositions we’ve ever recorded. I was trying some different writing methods and the results are…interesting. ‘Days of ’49’ is an attempt to repurpose an old traditional folk song, which is new for us.” Hammers of Misfortune also enlisted Nick Dumitriu (Vhol, Ritual Chamber) to produce this record, utilizing a vintage Trident board and minimizing digital processing. The result is a warm, sharp sound that harkens back to productions like John Leckie’s treatment of Pink Floyd’s Meddle or David Hitchcock’s master work in Camel’s Mirage.

See below for the official track-listing, and stay tuned for more news coming soon!

Dead Revolution track-listing
1. The Velvet Inquisition
2. Dead Revolution
3. Sea of Heroes
4. The Precipice (Waiting for the Crash…)
5. Here Comes the Sky
6. Flying Alone
7. Days of ’49

Hammers of Misfortune line-up:
John Cobbett – guitar
Will Carroll – drums, percussion
Sigrid Sheie – organ, piano
Leila Abdul-Rauf – guitar, vocals
Joe Hutton – vocals
Paul Walker – bass