HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE

HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE
THE LOCUST YEARS (2006)
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WOW! Where did this album come from? Who would have expected a mixture of incoherent riffs, dramatic vocals (male and female!), organ sounds and folkish melodies? Imagine a threesome between Brocas Helm, Therion and Ancient Rites. A Mind-boggling mix paper, but you know what? - I love this odd little thing!
Yet it feels a bit overwhelming since there’s so much going on. Never mind the wildly inventive and unpredictable guitar work; we have a distraught keyboard (organ?) player on hands too whose sole purpose seems to be to throw us off balance. Did I mention there’s piano and acoustic guitar too? The Locust Years seems to have everything except barking dogs. I find it fascinating that this is probably Hammers of Misfortune’s “simplest” and most coherent work. Imagine the freak factor of their earlier albums.
The most impressive thing about The Locust Years is how expertly and convincingly all these elements are brought together. The band even makes it work in (near) all-acoustic pieces like ‘Famine’s Lamp’ or the (neo-classical?!) instrumental ‘Election Day’ – impressive! These two songs – and the majority – are far from being a straightforward affair. The band takes its time in getting to the point, taking some detours along the way before getting back on track. This is a dangerous approach - a less gifted band would surely have made a total mess out of this. The songwriting is, as it turns out, absolutely stellar as it’s totally unpredictable and inventive, yet super-consistent and interesting all the way.
It may take some time (a lot of time!) before it sinks in but, in retrospect, this is one of the best albums of 2006.

1. The Locust Years
2. We Are the Widows
3. Trot Out the Dead
4. Famine's Lamp
5. Chastity Rides
6. War Anthem
7. Election Day
8. Widow's Wall