Bloody Hammers - Under Satan's Sun

Bloody Hammers know how to capture that groovy occult horror vibe from the 70s, as demonstrated by this awesome poster cover.If nothing else, you've got to admit that North Carolinians Bloody Hammers don't slack. Having formed in 2012, they've released a full-length album every year, bringing us to their third, Under Satan's Sun. And their Sabbath-y, bottom-heavy groove is perfectly augmented by the Southern rock tempos you might expect out of Asheville. Throw in the occult/horror vibe of classic 70s films like Suspiria or The Wicker Man and you're on to something.

Ringleader, Anders Manga embodies the tone of the band completely, his victorian top hat crowning his 'chicken-fried gothic' look. His voice even fits the music well, sounding eerily like a long lost brother of the late Peter Steele. But what matters is that the music has a sound all its own, fitting amongst the scads of other retro bands without sounding like a group of bandwagon hoppers. This is a band tailor-made for the costume party to end all costume parties next Halloween. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll never sounded so cool.

The album is laid out like a horror movie, but it's not necessarily a concept record. The bass is quite prominent on pretty much every track, as if the band was playing in the belly of some great beast. There's a definite Southern rock groove to it, with some cool surf beats thrown in as on The Last Alarm. It all conjures up images of demonic go-go girls gyrating in bone cages while Anders glares at you from under the brim of his hat. Seriously, the music is cool, but the atmosphere is almost another band member in itself. Retro-rockers should definitely check this out.

The Bottom Line: Bloody Hammers knows what sound it's going for and hits the mark perfectly. While the retro train may be getting a little over-crowded, there's always room for those that innovate rather than imitate. So rock on, you groovy ghoulies.

Tracks To Crank While Chatting Up Hot Hippie Chicks At Your Next Kegger: Death Does Us Part, The Moon-Eyed People, Under Satan's Sun and Dead Man's Shadow On The Wall

- Genghis really wants to watch some Groovy Ghoulies now...