Album Review: "Built For War" by Hammercult

Built For War

By the Power of Grayskull!

Sometimes we just more power metal in our empty lives. This is an oversimplification and I will get to that later on...

Today I'm going to review the latest album by Israeli thrashers Hammercult.

The band was founded all the way back in 2010 and have released an EP and two full length albums before Built For War, 2012's Anthems of the Damned and Steelcrusher from 2014. As this is only their second album, Hammercult fits right into the mantra of new music.

It would appear that there's a growing metal scene in Israel. I suppose that makes sense though. It would be quite easy to become metal over there. It's probably not worth pointing out that heavy metal godfather and inventor (yeah right) of the metal horns, Gene Simmons is originally from Israel.

Hammercult, guns noted.

Look at the picture of the band on the right there and you'll see a photographic metaphor for their music.

Bigness.

This music is embiggened to the Nth degree.

The riffs, the drums, the vocals, it's all immense. I cannot think of an album I've heard in the last little while that has been this big.

Musically, this is thrash metal or death metal. It's at least straddling the line between the genres. There are a few things missing from this album being full on death metal: incessant growls, detuned guitars, and blast beats.

But to me...this is neither thrash nor death metal, but Power Metal. The songs are about strength, readiness, and there's an epic quality to them that makes them feel so very, very large.

This album isn't Shakespeare and it's not the most mature album you're going to hear this week, but everything doesn't always have to be.

Hammercult have made a massive album that highlights their strengths and just rocks.

Release: 9/4//15
Genre: Power Metal
Label: Steamhammer
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