Review / 200 Words Or Less
Bloody Hammers
Lovely Sort of Death

Napalm (2016) Kevin Fitzpatrick

Bloody Hammers – Lovely Sort of Death cover artwork
Bloody Hammers – Lovely Sort of Death — Napalm, 2016

Bloody Hammers hail from North Carolina and specialize in doom. The band was founded by Anders Manga, who remains the main songwriter and performer - recruiting others only for tours.

Manga's partner-in-dirge is keyboardist, Devalia and while she has been with Manga since the beginning, it would seem she is poised to assume a larger role with the band's music.

Providing atmospheric accompaniment in the past, Devalia's keyboards are in the forefront of almost every song on the album. While it helps to flesh out the more sparsely arranged tunes like "Shadows Out Of Time", they can come across a bit superfluous on the denser arrangements.

This is Bloody Hammers 4th album and I'm gonna be honest with you - it's really about time more people took notice, because there's some great songs here - as on previous efforts. Aside from the increased keys presence, the biggest change is the production, which had been one of the band's biggest detriments, but here they sound huge - every bit as apocalyptic as they should be.

Bloody Hammers – Lovely Sort of Death cover artwork
Bloody Hammers – Lovely Sort of Death — Napalm, 2016

Recently-posted album reviews

Ramleh

Hyper Vigilance
Sleeping Giant Glossolalia (2025)

Ramleh is a cornerstone of the UK industrial and noise underground. Staring out in the early '80s, they are one of the pioneers of noise and power electronics alongside the likes of Whitehouse and Sutcliffe Jügend. But, beneath the havoc and the sonic debris, Ramleh always carried an emotional pulse. It is what separates their finest moment, Hole In The … Read more

Crippling Alcoholism

Camgirl
Portrayal of Guilt Records (2025)

Crippling Alcoholism have always navigated a delicate balance between musical depth and immediacy. A blend that few bands attempt, let alone master, but Crippling Alcoholism's two previous full-length records, When The Drugs That Make You Sick Are The Drugs That Make You Better and especially With Love From A Padded Room did exactly that. With a foundation formed through post-punk … Read more

The Necks

Disquiet
Northern Spy (2025)

There are no signs of slowing down for Australian jazz masters The Necks. Following the release of the excellent Bleed in 2024, the legendary trio makes a return with their 20th full-length record, Disquiet. Long-form compositions are nothing new for the trio, but here they dive headfirst into a three-hour tour de force, traversing the abstract and meditative territories they … Read more