RINGWORM — Hammer of the Witch (review)

RINGWORM — Hammer of the Witch album cover Album · 2014 · Crossover Thrash Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
UMUR
"Hammer of the Witch" is the 6th full-length studio album by US, Cleveland, Ohio based crossover/thrash metal act Ringworm. The album was released through Relapse Records in March 2014. Ringworm was founded in 1989 and was initially active until 1994 when they disbanded. They released their debut full-length studio album "The Promise" in 1993. Ringworm reunited in 2001 and has been active since. Some of the members of the band have also been working with acts like Holy Ghost, Charred Walls of the Damned, Soulless, and Beyond Fear.

The music on "Hammer of the Witch" is thrash metal with a few nods toward hardcore. If I have to make a comparison I´d mention "rEVOLVEr (2004)" by The Haunted as a reference. They both share a heavy Slayer influence, but also a hardcore oriented singing style. The music on the album is relentlessly aggressive, powerful, raw, and energetic. It´s impossible to sit still while listening to "Hammer of the Witch" as it constantly invites to a violent mosh. It´s not primitive by any means though, and the material is well written and relatively catchy. I say relatively because there could have been a bit more variation between tracks, and not all tracks on the 13 track, 41:12 minutes long album are equally memorable. The raw and shouting singing style is probably a bit of an aquired taste too, and it does become a bit one-dimensional a couple of tracks into the album.

"Hammer of the Witch" features a very well sounding production. It´s raw and organic, and very powerful, with good room for the bass, which provides the music with a great heavy sound.

Considering all factors and elements of this release, "Hammer of the Witch" is a great album by Ringworm. I think it could have benefitted from more variation (especially in the vocal department), but other than that there are few issues if you enjoy raw and aggressive yet very well produced thrash metal with a hardcore edge. A 3.5 - 4 star (75%) rating is deserved.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
Bosh66 wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Good album and review. Not that it's important but I'd call this as thrash-based metalcore rather than crossover, personally though.
UMUR wrote:
more than 2 years ago
To my ears the vocals become a bit tiresome after a while, but other than that, it´s a really great album with a super well sounding production.
Unitron wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Great review, sounds like something I'd really like. I'll have to check it out. :)

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Rot Stink Rip Death Metal
TOMBSTONER
Buy this album from MMA partners
Human Rosin Melodic Metalcore
HATE BREEDER
Buy this album from MMA partners
Through The Hell Hardcore Punk
ENEMY 906
Buy this album from MMA partners
Lightmatter: Rebirth Deathcore
EARTHGAZER
Buy this album from MMA partners
Eye Of Horus (Lightmatter EP Pt. 2) Deathcore
EARTHGAZER
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Agremorta - Adrocitas (Official Lyric Video)
AGREMORTA
Bosh66· 5 days ago
Agremorta - Ploratus Umbra (Official Lyric Video)
AGREMORTA
Bosh66· 5 days ago
Agremorta - Vertex Membrana (Official Lyric Video)
AGREMORTA
Bosh66· 5 days ago
HAIL SPIRIT NOIR - The Temple Of Curved Space (Official Track Stream)
HAIL SPIRIT NOIR
adg211288· 5 days ago
In Sulfur - The Gate (OFFICIAL VIDEO) 2022
IN SULFUR
Bosh66· 6 days ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed