Review / 200 Words Or Less
Bulldozer
The Hammers

Motherbox (2008) Mirza

Bulldozer – The Hammers cover artwork
Bulldozer – The Hammers — Motherbox, 2008

Sadly this is not a album by recently reformed Italian thrashers Bulldozer but a disc made by a New York band playing bog-standard punk rock with melodic and shouty sing-along choruses.

It's hard to get wet and excited over another punk band that has flashes of rock'n roll and sounds like they came straight from the practice room - especially since most have probably heard, by estimation, around eight poorly produced albums of the same sound with tin-pot drumming this month alone. Last time was probably when your kid brother's band played in front of twelve people in some dive bar.

The problem is not that the music on The Hammers is thoroughly bad but that it's just bland and doesn't inspire any reaction. Bulldozer is the quintessential bar band - there to play songs like "The Cocksmen/ Gravedigger" to whoever wants to hear jokey rock' n roll in the vein of Guttermouth on a Tuesday evening and doesn't mind the utter lack of variety. The guys are probably aware of and content with the situation.

Throw in some thoroughly meat-headed lyrics - apart from "Guido Beach" which did raise a smile - and you have a recording likely to be forgotten within the hour of turning it of.

3.0 / 10Mirza • June 30, 2009

Bulldozer – The Hammers cover artwork
Bulldozer – The Hammers — Motherbox, 2008

Recently-posted album reviews

Errth

Errth
Uncle Style Records (2025)

What makes a gruff vocal melodic punk band stand out? That's the question I'm asking myself as I listen to Errth's debut on repeat. I've been playing this record for probably a month straight and I dig it. It checks the heart-on-sleeve style I enjoy but I'm struggling to figure out why, exactly. I think on this, it's the tones … Read more

1186

Histeria
Drunken Sailor (2025)

If you read enough press releases, you start questioning if you even know what genre names mean. Post-punk has been one of the most abused terms of the past 2-3 years and it seems to mean wildly different things to different people. To me, it’s always meant an ear for angular guitars and noise atop more traditional song concepts. 1186 … Read more

Li Jianhong

Shuttle Raven of the Dream
Utech (2025)

Li Jianhong's philosophy surpasses the direct relationship of a musician with their instrument of choice. Instead, Li has advocated for Environment Improvisation, where the urge to create and improvise is established by the artist's surroundings. Looking at Li's website you can find numerous instances that inspired him to settle down and start improvising, drawing energy from the surroundings. The music … Read more