HammerHawk

Hammerhawk

Breaks Loose / Welcome Home, We Expected You

Metal Warrior Records: 2022

https://www.facebook.com/hammermetalforever

http://www.metalwarriorrecords.com/

The Dutch metal mastodont Hammerhawk was very well known all over the land. That was due to their live performances and their recordings of unadulterated no frill old fashioned heavy metal that have been released all through the years. Now Metal Warrior Records has given them an extra way to shine. They have been able to combine the first EP from 1984, Break Loose, with their 1982 debut demo, and have given it the name of the EP. Good move, especially as the recordings are quite good, considering the lack of current technology whilst recording music. What you played is what you got, unless you had so much money that you could do overdubs. And it becomes quite clear that Hammerhawk didn’t, but also that they didn’t need them.

The second album that is being resurrected is Welcome Hone, We Expected You. And that sounds even more impressive than Breaks Loose. You can hear that Hammerhawk had found their market. This one’s a lot heavier, very much in your face, and leaning a lot more towards a mix between Thrash and Heavy Metal, with the emphasis on the former. Here the band have succeeded in blending those styles in a very convincing manner.

Hammerhawk doesn’t exist anymore, and never will, but there is no reason to try and acquire a piece of their history. If you would like to any one of the albums, feel free to do so, but if you are more adventurous and also fast enough, you might still be able to get hold of the two put together as a boxset called Heavy Metal Forever. You can even choose the physical CD set or a vinyl set. It’s up to you, but I wouldn’t wait too long.

MetalWim van Grunsven