### Demolition Hammer: Tortured existence

#### 21/09/10 || InquisitorGeneralis

I am definitely a behind-the-times motherfucker when it comes to old-school bands. First, former staffer SuckmyWooderson gives the classic treatment to Exhorder’s Slaughter in the Vatican which motivated me to check out those Nawlin’s based thrashers and converted me to becoming a huge Exhorder fan who will being waiting with a massive boner until May 2011 when I get to see them at the Maryland Deathfest! Then, resident Teutonic thrash master deluxe Habakuk drops a Class6(66) of Demolition Hammer’s masterpiece Epidemic of violence which prompted me to check out these sadly inactive thrashers from my former stomping grounds in The Bronx, NYC (uptown baby, uptown baby!). Again, I realize I have been missing out on yet another classic band that plays my exact favorite style of metal: late 80’s and early 90’s heavy thrash that gets awful close to death metal.

Demolition Hammer fucken rule. If you don’t believe me check out Gelid remains and then go fuck yourself with a railroad spike. What more do you need? Great sneering vocals, catchy riffs, plenty of time and tempo changes, and monster drumming. “Gelid remains” is just one of many winners found on “Tortured Existence”. While things do get a bit repetitive at times that is not the end of this miserable world because the sound and style being repeated fucking rules!

Demolition Hammer’s brand of heavy riff and double-bass thrash is heavier than a lot of shit that was being called “death metal” at the same time. “Mercenary aggression” also brings the serious pain and has some parts like sound almost like “Rise to Power”-era Monstrosity thirteen years before Florida’s finest and most underrated shit it out. Translation: it fucking kicks ass. Check out the breakdown and accompanying riff two minutes in to “Parricidal epitaph” for an example of how that shit is done right. The solo at the end of that song also rules.

“Tortured existence” pounds your ass with one technically, groovy, intense trash tune after another. Steve Reynold’s vocal delivery is the classic snarl/shout that is found in most thrash of this time period. However, it never gets to high-pitched to be annoying (ex: Kreator) or to pretentious and sing-songy (ex: BellAnthrax). His does a solid job on the bass too and really stands out on “Infectious hospital waste” and “Cataclysm” with some parts that remind me of Steve DiGiorgio’s work on Death’s masterpiece “Individual Thoughts Patterns”…which came three years after this badmutherfucker. Speaking of “Cataclysm”, the breakdown riff that guitarists James Reilly and Derek Sykes unleash two and half minutes in is a-fuking-mazing. These two tear it up throughout “Tortured existence” and while they do not venture deep to Maiden-world with tons and tons of dual-melodic-guitar-wankery; they certainly know to have one rocking a solo while the other keeps the rhythm going strong. See “Crippling velocity” about three minutes in for just one of many examples of Reilly and Sykes considerable skills.

My favorite part of “Tortured Existence” is the drumming courtesy of Vinny Daze who unfortunately is now kicking it in the great moshpit in the sky due to Globefish poisoning (ouch!). Daze could fucking play and he dominates “Tortured Existence” from beginning to end with lots of thrashing, impressive footwork, and speed changes. It really is a shame this dude is gone because I would give anything to see these songs played live by the original gang.

The only issue I have with “Tortured Existence” is the previous mentioned repetition but, trust me, that is only a slight problem. This record absolutely brings the heat and if you are fan of old-school thrash and death metal it definitely deserves a listen. I should have done a Class 6(66) for this monster but I have a few of those in the works and they suck in a significant amount of my already diminished brainpower. Thanks again to fellow staffer Habakukkaburra Shrimp for opening up my bloodshot eyes to Demolition Hammer for I am now a solid fan of The Bronx’s finest, and sadly defunct, thrash metal export.

- Information
- Released: 1990
- Label: Century Media
- Website: Demolition Hammer MySpace
- Band
- Steve Reynolds: vocals, bass
- James Reilly: guitars
- Derek Sykes: guitars
- Vinny Daze: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. .44 Caliber Brain Surgery
- 02. Neanderthal
- 03. Gelid Remains 05
- 04. Crippling Velocity
- 05. Infectious Hospital Waste
- 06. Hydrophobia
- 07. Parricidal Epitaph
- 08. Mercenary Aggression
- 09. Cataclysm