The return of Hammers “Vardøgr”
Review + Euro Tour Dates

Review source FOREVER CURSED
“Vardøgr” marks the return of Manchester’s prodigal sons Hammers. It’s been quite some time since these guys released something and i’m glad they did because i really missed them. I’ve been following the band since the “Year One” Demo, and the minute i saw that Hammers had a new release out i immediately knew that it was going to sound like an atom bomb was dropped right above our heads. Being active for a respectful pair of years, Hammers have gained their space and a solid reputation among this new wave of crust scene, neocrust, blackened crust, call it what you want. The band drinks some influences from genres like punk, crust, metal, powerviolence… no matter what, the result is powerful, heavy, fast and very pissed. Just for you to see, with “Vardøgr” the band blasts 10 tracks in just 19 minutes.

As the guitar feedback starts in “Casting Spells” i can instantly read that in my mind as a “step aside or you’re going to get hurt“. And i was right. As the first notes start to sound an avalanche of Hammer’s dirty crust throws us immediately to the ground. The assault continues throughout 9 dirty, fast, mean and vicious tracks where Hammers simply won’t surrender and they just won’t give you one second of rest. The musical approach that Hammers do to their sound is very DIY, with that i mean that their sound is simple but at the same time quite effective and plain honest through every note exhaled. No clean, polished production no artificial bullshit. It’s raw to the core. A brutal discharge of pure energy. An excellent return that shows that the band hasn’t soften at all and that they are still in great shape. One of the finest albums of the genre for the year, for sure. The band is kind enough to offer this new excellent release for free, although it will be available for purchase soon, so keep an eye on that and support the band so they may continue the awesome work they have been doing so far. Fans of Masakari, Black Ships, Cursed, Perth Express, this is mandatory.

Tour dates after the jump!

These guys are going to be on tour very soon, so if they hit your hometown, be sure to be there support them! Check out the dates below:

09/06/12 – UK. bradford, 1-in-12 club w/ tragedy
10/06/12 – UK. penzance, dirty sunday w/ crocus
11/06/12 – UK. london, black heart (camden) w/ lich
12/06/12 – FR. herzeele, ferme de la briqueterie
13/06/12 – NL. utrecht, acu w/ sloth, terzij de horde
14/06/12 – DE. hannover, ujz korn w/ november 13th
15/06/12 – DE. berlin, schokoladen
16/06/12 – DE. dresden, scheun / bunte republik neustad
17/06/12 – CZ. prague, klubovna povalec
18/06/12 – AT. graz, sub
19/06/12 – HU. budapest, szabad az a
20/06/12 – RS. bačka topola, klub panta rhei
21/06/12 – BA. bihac, venue tbc w/ deer in the headlights
22/06/12 – IT. campel – fuck shoes fest vol. 2, trento
23/06/12 – IT. monza, boccaccio
24/06/12 – IT. carpi, ekidna – rottura del silenzio fest w/ holy
26/06/12 – CH. geneva, kab-usine
27/06/12 – ES. barcelona, rocksound music bar
28/06/12 – ES. madrid, rock palace
29/06/12 – ES. a coruña, csoa palavea
30/06/12 – ES. bilbao (basauri), txarraska gaztetxea
01/07/12 – FR. bordeaux, heretic club
02/07/12 – FR. paris, la cantine de belleville
03/07/12 – BE. brussels, dna
04/07/12 – DE. essen, emokeller
05/07/12 – NL. tilburg, little devil
06/07/12 – BE. kortrijk, the pits w/ early graves
07/07/12 – DE. köln, az köln-kalk w/ alpinist, masakari
08/07/12 – UK. ipswich (alldayer, hammers <4.30pm), royal oak 08/07/12 - UK. norwich, olive’s café 09/07/12 - UK. leeds, royal park cellars 10/07/12 - UK. manchester, kraak gallery w/ graf orlock, lich 13/07/12 - UK. liverpool, wolstenholme creative space