Hellhammer

Infobox musical artist
Name = Hellhammer


Img_capt =
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Zürich, Switzerland
Genre = Black metal
Death metal
Years_active = 1982–1984
Label = Noise Records Century Media Records
Associated_acts = Celtic Frost
URL = [http://www.hellhammer.org www.hellhammer.org]
Current_members =
Past_members = Jörg Neubart
Martin Eric Ain
Mike Owens
Pete Stratton
Stephen Priestly
Thomas Gabriel Fischer
Urs Sprenger
Vince Caretti

Hellhammer was an influential early 1980s extreme metal band from Switzerland. They are regarded as a key influence on black metal, [cite web|url= http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:h9fuxqw5ldhe|title= ((( Hellhammer > Overview )))|author= Rivadavia, Ed|publisher= [http://www.allmusic.com allmusic.com] |accessdate= 2008-05-09] and frontman Thomas Gabriel Fischer stated they "would later be credited as being among the founders of death metal." [Fischer 2000, page 78.] Two former members went on to form Celtic Frost in 1984.Fischer 2000, page 80.]

Biography

Inspired by the music of Black Sabbath, Venom, Raven and Motörhead, [Fischer 2000, pages 62 & 64.] guitarist/vocalist Thomas Gabriel Fischer (a.k.a. "Tom Warrior"), bassist/vocalist Urs Sprenger (a.k.a. "Steve Warrior") and drummer Pete Stratton formed Hammerhead (later Hellhammer) in early 1982. [Fischer 2000, page 65.]

After being joined by drummer Jörg Neubart (a.k.a. "Bruce Day") in autumn 1982, the band attempted to find proper rehearsal spaces, which proved difficult due to either exceedingly high rents or unavailable studio hours. [Fischer 2000, pages 65 & 66.] In spite of their rather marginal musical and technical quality, demo tapes called "Triumph of Death" and "Satanic Rites" became underground, word-of-mouth hits and the band was eventually picked up by German-based Noise Records (1984). Steve Warrior had been replaced by former "Schizo" bassist Martin Eric Ain, a change which marked the beginning of a serious and radical transformation in the band's music and lyrics. These changes were ultimately responsible for Fischer's and Ain's increasing perception of being limited within the confines of the purposely primitive Hellhammer vehicle. On May 31 1984 Hellhammer was disbanded, and on June 1 Celtic Frost was born.Fischer 2000, page 80.]

At the dawn of the next decade Noise Records released a new version of Hellhammer's debut, retitled "Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D." This re-issue was augmented by two tracks off the "Death Metal" compilation, which was "something we always wanted to, even back in '84", claimed Tom Warrior. This rerelease also came with a new cover design done by Martin Ain.cite album-notes|title= Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D.|albumlink= Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D.|bandname= Hellhammer|year= 1990|notestitle=The Macabre Existence of Hellhammer|url=|first=Thomas Gabriel|last=Warrior|pages=p. 2|format=CD booklet|publisher= Modern Music Records|location= Berlin, Germany]

In November 2007, Tom Gabriel Fischer announced that the original master tapes of Hellhammer's demos ("Death Fiend", "Triumph of Death", and "Satanic Rites") would be released as a 2CD/3LP package in February, 2008 (titled "Demon Entrails") with new liner notes on the complete history of Hellhammer, unreleased photos and artwork, and all tracks remastered personally by Tom Gabriel Fischer, Martin Eric Ain and Steve Warrior.Fact|date=May 2008 The album was released by Prowlin' Death/Century Media Records.

Additionally, Tom Fisher plans to release a book entitled "Only Death is Real - An Illustrated History of Hellhammer and early Celtic Frost" which will document the early days of the said bands.Fact|date=May 2008

Criticism

Although its former members felt proud of Hellhammer's legacy by the end of 1980s, that was not always so.cite album-notes|title= Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D.|albumlink= Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D.|bandname= Hellhammer|year= 1990|notestitle=The Macabre Existence of Hellhammer|url=|first=Thomas Gabriel|last=Warrior|pages=p. 2|format=CD booklet|publisher= Modern Music Records|location= Berlin, Germany] In fact, Tom Warrior feared that his prior commitment to Hellhammer could hinder the future of Celtic Frost.Fact|date=May 2008 A 1985 "Kerrang!" review summed up his worst fears: "The truly execrable Hellhammer may now have turned into Celtic Frost but still suck on the big one."Gregori 2003, page 11.]

Other metal publications were also skeptical of Hellhamer's musical endeavor. "Metal Forces", for one, absolutely loathed the group; that started a long-lasting feud between that zine and Warrior, which kept Celtic Frost from playing in England for a couple of years.Gregori 2003, page 11.] "Rock Power" was not fond of Hellhammer either - they considered it "the most terrible, abhorrent, and atrocious thing ‘musicians’ were ever allowed to record". [cite web|url= http://www2.centurymedia.com/index.aspx?page=detailed_artist&id_artist=192|title= "Death Fiends": A Short Biography of HELLHAMMER|author= Doe, Bernard|date= December 2007|publisher= [http://www2.centurymedia.com Century Media Records] |accessdate= 2008-05-10] In fact, they were "receiving miserable reviews everywhere", Warrior concluded.Fischer 2000, page 80.]

Regarding the controversial status of his former band, Thomas said:

Legacy

A four-track 12" EP, "Apocalyptic Raids", was released in March 1984. At the time, it was regarded as one of the heaviest and most extreme records produced. By then, the band had already broken up, but the recording was one of the original black/death metal recordings, and spawned a legion of imitators, playing doom metal, thrash metal, black metal and death metal. Both Fischer and Ain later teamed up again when forming the seminal Celtic Frost in summer of 1984.

Countless Hellhammer cover versions by numerous underground bands exist.Fact|date=May 2008 The better-known Hellhammer covers were done by bands Napalm Death and Sepultura, both of whom covered the Hellhammer song "Messiah". [cite web|url= http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:3zftxqqaldae|title= ((( Revolusongs > Overview )))|author= Loftus, Johnny|publisher= [http://www.allmusic.com allmusic.com] |accessdate= 2008-05-09] [cite web|url= http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=&sql=10:0ifexqusld6e|title= ((( Leaders Not Followers, Pt. 2 > Overview )))|author= Rivadavia, Ed|publisher= [http://www.allmusic.com allmusic.com] |accessdate= 2008-05-09] Fischer's post-Celtic Frost band, Apollyon Sun, also re-worked that song.

Discography

Demos

*1983 – "Death Fiend" (unreleased)
*1983 – "Triumph of Death"
*1983 – "Satanic Rites"

Albums

*1984 – "Apocalyptic Raids"
*1990 – "Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D." – reissued with the songs from the "Death Metal" compilation.
*2008 – "Demon Entrails" – compilation containing the "Death Fiend", "Triumph of Death" and "Satanic Rites" demo tapes.

Compilation appearances

*1984 – "Death Metal" – split release with Helloween, Running Wild and Dark Avenger.
*1984 – "Metal Massacre V" – Metal Blade compilation which also featured Voivod, Overkill, Metal Church and Fates Warning.

Notes

References

* Fischer, Thomas Gabriel (2000). "Are You Morbid? Into the Pandemonium of Celtic Frost." London: Sanctuary Publishing Limited.
* Gregori, Damien (2003). "Thrash Metal or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb." Terrorizer, 108: 10-14.
* Hellhammer (1990). "Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D." [CD] . New York, NY: Futurist/Noise International.

External links

* [http://www.hellhammer.org/ Official Hellhammer Burial Site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/hellhammerband Official Hellhammer MySpace page]