Martelo Negro - Sortilégio dos Mortos
After a name change in 2009 from Black Hammer to the Portugese translation Martelo Negro, the Blackened Thrash outfit felt it was time to release their debut full length. Overall, aside from the intriguing titles, it doesn't really break any new ground, but can still be fun to hear. The underground and gritty production with the mid paced repetitive riffs and grunting vocals that feel in between Black and Death Metal will entertain listeners for a bit, but track after track sounding the same over and over may run a bit weary on the ear. Here and there the group will throw in a few interesting pieces, such as the Satanic mantra of "Satanic Speed Thrash Propaganda"- which is actually quite slow- or the wonderfully melodic opening of the thundering doomy piece "Into the Death." Moments like these will rescue listeners from the boredome that sifts through their minds if they feel this Black n' Roll attack is a bit too much like a one trick pony.
There are lots of atmospheric moments on the album, but they can tend to come at the wrong times. Many of the tracks are less than a minute long and either feature murmurs, grunts, or chants that seem intriguing at first, but they leave faster than they come and leave listeners wondering just what it was they were listening to, such as "Interludio Macabro" which features chopped fragments of what sounds like demonspeak, but it doesn't seem to do much for the overall tone of the album. There is a re-recording of the original "Winds Of Carrion" written for the debut EP of Black Hammer, and it sounds a bit more Death Metal, showing the bands original origins while still retaining a Black n' Roll style, but at the same time it just seems to meld into the rest of the album with its mid paced churning. For most Black Metal fans or those who like raw, underground sounding pieces that aren't quite demo quality but also not studio produced diamonds will find the gritty Martelo Negro something to enjoy, providing they like the music somewhat catchy and repetitive.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/v/ZeAujbwYUPM[/embed]
There are lots of atmospheric moments on the album, but they can tend to come at the wrong times. Many of the tracks are less than a minute long and either feature murmurs, grunts, or chants that seem intriguing at first, but they leave faster than they come and leave listeners wondering just what it was they were listening to, such as "Interludio Macabro" which features chopped fragments of what sounds like demonspeak, but it doesn't seem to do much for the overall tone of the album. There is a re-recording of the original "Winds Of Carrion" written for the debut EP of Black Hammer, and it sounds a bit more Death Metal, showing the bands original origins while still retaining a Black n' Roll style, but at the same time it just seems to meld into the rest of the album with its mid paced churning. For most Black Metal fans or those who like raw, underground sounding pieces that aren't quite demo quality but also not studio produced diamonds will find the gritty Martelo Negro something to enjoy, providing they like the music somewhat catchy and repetitive.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/v/ZeAujbwYUPM[/embed]
- Orgen Oletram
- Altar Nos Escombros
- Black Hammer
- Servos Da Cúspide
- Sob Os Cascos de Satã
- Satanic Speed Thrash Propaganda
- Into The Death
- He Who Walks The Limbo
- Hierofante Em Chamas
- Mutilação Ritual
- Interludio Macabro
- Winds Of Carrion
- Ocitemreh Otluc
