Hellhammer

Template:Short description Template:For Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox musical artist Hellhammer was a Swiss extreme metal band from Nürensdorf, active from 1982 to 1984. Although the band's sound and style were heavily criticized and poorly reviewed during their active years,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> they have been widely praised in retrospect and are often regarded as a key influence on black metal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Fischer (2000), p. 78.</ref> In June 1984, Hellhammer disbanded but two of its members soon formed the influential extreme metal band Celtic Frost.<ref name=cf80>Fischer (2000), p. 80.</ref>

History

Musical career

Inspired by the music of Black Sabbath, Venom, Raven, Motörhead<ref>Fischer (2000), pp. 62 & 64.</ref> and Angel Witch,<ref name="rollingstone" /> guitarist/vocalist Thomas Gabriel Fischer (a.k.a. "Tom Warrior"), bassist/vocalist Urs Sprenger (a.k.a. "Savage Damage" and "Steve Warrior") from the band Grave Hill, and drummer Pete Stratton (Peter Ebneter)<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> formed Hammerhead (later Hellhammer) in May 1982.<ref>Fischer (2000), p. 65.</ref> Although Fischer "was not into punk at all," he was "blown away" by the Discharge records Why and Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing,<ref>Bennett (2009), p. 34.</ref> which profoundly influenced his music from then on. As he noted, a lack of extreme metal at the time meant that fans of Venom and Motörhead often had to resort to punk bands for similar sounds.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> GBH and Anti-Nowhere League also proved influential.<ref name="rollingstone">Template:Cite magazine</ref>

After the exit of Stratton and drummer Jörg Neubart (a.k.a. "Denial Fiend", "Bloodhunter" and "Bruce Day", from the band Moorhead<ref name=":1"/>) joining in the ranks in autumn 1982, Hellhammer attempted to find proper rehearsal spaces, which proved difficult due to either exceedingly high rents or unavailable studio hours.<ref>Fischer (2000), pp. 65 & 66.</ref> In June 1983, the group recorded their demo tape, Triumph of Death, for a mere $70.<ref>Fischer (2000), p. 72.</ref> Despite being embarrassed by the end results, Hellhammer shipped their demo to a number of heavy metal magazines, such as Great Britain's Metal Forces; critical response toward them was generally favorable.<ref>Fischer (2000), p. 73.</ref> Although rejected by the labels they sent tapes to, the band eventually caught the attention of a newcomer German label, Noise Records.<ref>Fischer (2000), p. 75.</ref>

Steve Warrior was dismissed in the summer of 1983 due to lack of musical talent, and replaced first by Mike "Grim Decapitator" Owens (Mike Baum) from the band Violence. Schizo drummer Stephen Priestly from Wallisellen replaced Bruce Day in October 1983, and later in 1983 fellow Schizo member, American born Martin Eric Ain replaced Owens on bass, a change which marked the beginning of a serious and radical transformation in the band's music and lyrics. Finally still in 1983 Bruce Day rejoined to replace Priestly<ref name=":1"/> completing the Warrior / Ain/ Day line-up that recorded Hellhammer's only commercial release, Apocalyptic Raids in March 1984. After the EP was recorded, guitarist Vince "Dei Infernal" Caretti joined Hellhammer, after future Celtic Frost guitarist Oliver Amberg declined the offer.<ref name=":1" /> These changes were ultimately responsible for Fischer's and Ain's increasing perception of being limited within the confines of the purposely primitive Hellhammer vehicle. Hellhammer officially disbanded on May 11, 1984,<ref name=":1"/> and Fischer and Ain formed a new band under the name of Celtic Frost in June.<ref name=cf80 />

Post-breakup

At the dawn of the next decade Noise Records released a new version of Hellhammer's debut, retitled Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D. This re-issue was augmented by two tracks off the Death Metal compilation, which was "something we always wanted to, even back in '84", claimed Tom Warrior. This re-release also came with a new cover design done by Martin Ain.<ref name=aprd1990>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

In November 2007, Tom Gabriel Fischer announced that the original master tapes of Hellhammer's demos (Death Fiend, Triumph of Death, and Satanic Rites) would be released as a 2CD/3LP package, titled Demon Entrails, in February 2008 with new liner notes on the complete history of Hellhammer, unreleased photos and artwork, and all tracks remastered personally by Tom Gabriel Fischer, Martin Eric Ain and Steve Warrior. The album was released by Prowlin' Death/Century Media Records.

In 2016, both Century Media and Prowling Death Records joint released an unreleased 7" vinyl single the band originally recorded in 1983 titled Blood Insanity. Tom Gabriel Fischer explained that the band contemplated releasing material they recorded at the time of the Triumph of Death demo sessions which would contain two songs. Unfortunately, the single languished into an unrealized state until the band's split, rendering any plans for future releases redundant. Fischer went on to say that it never left his mind since then and presented the idea of releasing the single to Century Media, in which the record company agreed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Reception and legacy

Although its former members felt proud of Hellhammer's legacy by the end of the 1980s, that was not always so.<ref name="aprd1990" /> In fact, Tom Warrior feared that his prior commitment to Hellhammer could hinder the future of Celtic Frost. A 1985 Kerrang! review summed up his worst fears: "The truly execrable Hellhammer may now have turned into Celtic Frost but still suck on the big one."<ref name="terrorizer108">Gregori (2003), p. 11.</ref>

Other metal publications were also skeptical of Hellhammer's musical endeavor. Metal Forces, for one, absolutely loathed the group; that started a long-lasting feud between that zine and Warrior, which kept Celtic Frost from playing in England for a couple of years.<ref name="terrorizer108" /> Rock Power was not fond of Hellhammer either; they considered it "the most terrible, abhorrent, and atrocious thing 'musicians' were ever allowed to record".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In fact, they were "receiving miserable reviews everywhere", Warrior concluded.<ref name="cf80" />

Regarding the controversial status of his former band, Thomas said:

Phil Freeman of AllMusic stated: "Hellhammer was more of an after the fact legend than a band; the group released exactly six songs in any official way, and only garnered notice when frontman Thomas Gabriel Fischer (aka Thomas Gabriel Warrior) formed his next band, the avant-garde thrash act Celtic Frost."<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

A four-track 12" EP, Apocalyptic Raids, was released in March 1984. By that time, the band had already broken up, but the recording was one of the original black/death metal recordings, and spawned a legion of imitators, playing doom metal, thrash metal, black metal and death metal.Template:Citation needed Both Fischer and Ain later teamed up again when forming Celtic Frost in summer of 1984.

Hellhammer covers by notable bands include Napalm Death,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Sepultura,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Samael,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Incantation,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Slaughter,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Behemoth,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Gallhammer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Fischer's post-Celtic Frost band, Apollyon Sun, also re-worked "Messiah".Template:Citation needed

Tom Fischer released a book in 2010 titled Only Death Is Real: An Illustrated History of Hellhammer and early Celtic Frost 1982–1985, which documents the early days of said bands.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The book featured a foreword by Darkthrone guitarist Nocturno Culto and an introduction by the author Joel McIver.

Band members

Final

• Tom G. "Satanic Slaughter" Warrior (Thomas Gabriel Fischer) – guitar, lead vocals (1982–1984)
• "Slayed Necros" (Martin Eric Ain) – bass (1983–1984; died 2017)
• Bruce "Denial Fiend" Day (Jörg Neubart) – drums (1982–1984)
• Vince "Dei Infernal" Caretti (Vincent Garetti) – guitar (1984)

Previous members

• Pete Stratton (Peter Ebneter) – drums (1982)
• Steve "Savage Damage" Warrior (Urs Sprenger) – bass, vocals (1982–1983)
• Stephen "Evoked Damnator" Priestly (Stephen Gasser) – bass (1983)
• Mike "Grim Decapitator" Owens (Michael Baum) – bass (1983)

Timeline

<timeline> ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:22 PlotArea = left:100 bottom:60 top:10 right:10 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:05/01/1982 till:05/31/1984 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:horizontal position:bottom ScaleMajor = increment:1 start:1983 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1983

Colors =

id:Vocals            value:red        legend:Vocals
id:BackingVocals     value:pink       legend:Backing_vocals
id:Guitar            value:green      legend:Guitars
id:Bass              value:blue       legend:Bass
id:Drums             value:orange     legend:Drums
id:Ep                value:black      legend:EP
id:other             value:gray(0.40) legend:Demo
id:bars              value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

LineData =

at:06/15/1983 color:other layer:back
at:07/20/1983 color:other layer:back
at:12/24/1983 color:other layer:back
at:03/08/1984 color:black layer:back

BarData =

bar:Satanic text:"Satanic Slaughter"
bar:Dei     text:"Dei Infernali"
bar:Savage  text:"Savage Damage"
bar:Evoked  text:"Evoked Damnator"
bar:Grim    text:"Grim Decapitator"
bar:Slayed  text:"Slayed Necros"
bar:Pete    text:"Pete Stratton"
bar:Denial  text:"Denial Fiend"

PlotData=

 width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4)
 bar:Satanic from:05/01/1982 till:05/31/1984 color:vocals
 bar:Satanic from:05/01/1982 till:05/31/1984 color:guitar width:3
 bar:Dei     from:04/10/1984 till:05/31/1984 color:guitar
 bar:Savage  from:05/01/1982 till:07/01/1983 color:bass
 bar:Savage  from:05/01/1982 till:07/01/1983 color:BackingVocals width:3
 bar:Evoked  from:07/01/1983 till:09/01/1983 color:bass
 bar:Grim    from:09/01/1983 till:12/01/1983 color:bass
 bar:Slayed  from:12/01/1983 till:05/31/1984 color:bass
 bar:Pete    from:05/01/1982 till:09/30/1982 color:Drums
 bar:Denial  from:10/01/1982 till:05/31/1984 color:Drums

</timeline>

Discography

Demos

Year	Title
1983	Death Fiend
1983	Triumph of Death
1983	Satanic Rites

Studio releases

Year	Title	Notes
1984	Apocalyptic Raids	EP
1984	Death Metal	Split
2016	Blood Insanity	Single

Compilation albums

Year	Title
2008	Demon Entrails

Sources

• Bennett, J. (2009). "Procreation of the Wicked". In: Mudrian, A. (ed.), Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces (pp. 31–47). Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press.
• Fischer, T. G. (2000). Are You Morbid? Into the Pandemonium of Celtic Frost. London: Sanctuary Publishing Limited.
• Gregori, D. (2003). "Thrash Metal or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb". Terrorizer 108: 10–14.
• Hellhammer (1990). Apocalyptic Raids 1990 A.D. [CD]. New York, NY: Futurist/Noise International.

External links

• Official website (archived)
• Template:AllMusic
• Template:Discogs artist