Gallhammer

Gallhammer (/ˈɡælhæmər/) were a Japanese extreme metal group that drew on blackened crust,[1] black metal, doom metal, and crust punk.[2][3][4] They formed in Tokyo in 2003 and released three studio albums.

Gallhammer
Gallhammer performing in Glasgow, 2008.
Background information
OriginTokyo, Japan
Genres
Years active2003–2013
LabelsPeaceville
Associated actsSehnsucht
MembersVivian Slaughter
Lisa Reaper
Past membersMika Penetrator

The current group lineup is Vivian Slaughter (vocals, bass guitar) and Lisa Reaper (vocals, drums); the original lineup included Mika Penetrator (vocals, guitar).

Biography

Their first recording, a free demo tape limited to 30 copies, was distributed at their first gig at Koiwa Death Fest Vol.2, around March 2003, in Japan. In July of the same year, the self-titled demo was released. By April of the following year, they had released another demo, Endless Nauseous Days, and were working towards their debut full-length CD. The 8-track album, entitled Gloomy Lights, was released in November 2004 through Hello From The Gutter Records.

In January 2006, Gallhammer was signed to Peaceville Records, on the recommendation of Darkthrone.[5] A CD/DVD pack, entitled The Dawn of..., was released, containing a CD, demo and rehearsal footage, and a DVD recording of Gallhammer performing in Okayama and five concerts in Tokyo.

Gallhammer released their second full-length album, Ill Innocence, through Peaceville Records in September 2007, followed by a European tour. In March 2008, they did a second European tour. They also played at the Inferno Metal Festival in June.

For their third LP The End released in 2011 their guitarist, Mika Penetrator, was no longer present, but nevertheless the band chose to continue as a bass-drums duo.[6] For allmusic.com´s reviewer Phil Freeman "this has changed their musical style quite a bit; the thrashing punk metal of 2004's Gloomy Lights and 2007's Ill Innocence can still be heard on songs like "Rubbish CG202" and "Entropy G35," but tracks like "Aberration," "Sober," and the title cut are totally different—slow, sludgy death marches that owe more to Flipper and the Melvins than black metal."[6]

Gallhammer appeared in Nocturno Culto's film The Misanthrope: The Existence of Solitude and Chaos.[7]

Influences

In an interview with Contraband Candy, Vivian Slaughter cited Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, Amebix and Burzum as Gallhammer's main musical influences.[8]

Slaughter is also a passionate fan of Judas Priest,[9] and once called Corrupted "the greatest band in the world." [10] She says she was first inspired to play music after seeing Napalm Death and Painkiller in concert.[5]

Lisa Reaper is a fan of old school techno, krautrock, Kraftwerk and Laibach.[9]

The band's other influences include Joy Division, Antisect, Carcass, Cathedral, Morbid Angel, and Scorn.[11] The group is also inspired by Japanoise and have collaborated with Incapacitants.[9]

While the group borrows from crust and anarcho-punk, they do not identify with a particular political outlook.[12]

Members
Current
Former
  • Mika Penetrator – guitars, backing vocals (2003–2010)

Discography
Studio albums
Other albums
  • The First Reh-Tape (demo) (2003)
  • Gallhammer (demo) (2003)
  • Endless Nauseous Days (demo) (2004)
  • Beyond The Hatred (EP) (2007)
  • The Dawn of... (compilation) (2007)
  • A Taste of Despair (EP) (2010)
Videos
  • The Dawn of... (2007)
  • Ruin of a Church (2008)

References
  1. "Hard of Hearing", Terrorizer no. 171, June 2008, p. 56.
  2. "Gallhammer". Encyclopaedia Metallum. Retrieved 2008-02-24. Genre(s): Black/Doom Metal, Crust
  3. "Gallhammer – The Dawn Of… review". metalstorm.ee. 2007-03-06. Retrieved 2008-02-24. What do we have here? A compilation of a young Japanese band who wants to play Black / Crust Metal ?
  4. "Gallhammer Biography". Peaceville Records. Retrieved 2008-02-24. Although Gallhammer had been known primarily as a black metal/punk act, the album was impressively diverse, showing their implementation of many influences and moods from both metal and non-metal genres.
  5. Interview with Rockers NYC. Access date: October 24, 2008.
  6. "The End - Gallhammer - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  7. "Review of Nocturno Culto - The Misanthrope: The Existence of Solitude and Chaos". Metal Crypt. July 8, 2007. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  8. ContrabandCandy (4 October 2007). "Gallhammer Interview" – via YouTube.
  9. "Hard of Hearing", Terrorizer No. 171, June 2008, p. 56-57.
  10. Doukas, Yiannis (December 9, 2007). "Vivian Slaughter (Gallhammer) interview". Metal Temple. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  11. Interview with Cosmic Lava, October 2004. Archived 2009-01-05 at the Wayback Machine Access date: October 26, 2008.
  12. "I never wanted to write political lyrics or sing about political topics – I just don't feel I can handle the responsibility, but me and many others in Japan were influenced by bands on Crass Records. But the political and economic systems in Japan and the UK are very different." – Vivian Slaughter, "Hard of Hearing", Terrorizer No. 171, June 2008, p. 56-57.
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