I wasn’t so much as rather taken with Sturmtiger’s blistering take on blackened death metal on Atomic Hammer, as pulverised as it rolled over me unconcerned with what I thought. So, flattened but still enthusiastic I was really pleased when this album lurched over the hill. Perhaps not quite the way the BBC is commemorating WWI but no less valid.
After the extended film intro, the thundering riff of ‘For Your Fatherland’ simply hammers into you. From the off this band can do two things that few death metal bands can: Firstly they let you know in no uncertain terms what they are about in the absolute minimum time possible, and secondly, they do it with an almighty fucking groove the size of tank tracks even when this is full on blasting. The vocals are buried and dark, but perfect as though barking from the depths of one of WWI proto-tanks and the engine is the pummelling drums pushing every song. The music is as mustard gas dark and ominous, making you pause to think what the soldiers must have thought the first time those never-before seen unearthly behemoths lurched, crawled and staggered across the battlefield and the song ‘Tank Attack’ is their perfect soundtrack. ‘Frontline’ begins with another intro, a spoken word from a British soldier. All stiff upper lip and defiance but and I defy you not to feel the helpless and plaintive nature of their words even as the song rolls over it. “We’re here because we’re here, because we’re here, because we’re here…” they sing as the utterly unforgiving riff blasts into them.
We also get a re-recording of the absolutely phenomenal track ‘Trench Warfare’ where the punk buzz drives the death metal drumming and vocals and tempo changes and produces something very, very special with more hooks than the barbed wire in no man’s land. Not a wasted moment in seven minutes, not even the extended outro soundtrack. They’ve thought about it, and it fits. This is Bolt Thrower gone black metal and somehow denser. They have the same sense of what a proper riff means to a song even in this racket.
‘War Power’ closes the album proper: blasting out relentlessly it is a wall of black noise that rips the world into ashes and mud until the lead guitar breaks out thrash-like over the top. Wonderful.
The two remaining tracks, ‘Knivdrab’ and ‘Mordet i Hammer Bakker’ are from the 2007 self titled EP and the vocals, all snarl and sharpness are in marked contrast to the far more atmospheric and suited vocals used on the remainder of the album. And, shock horror, I do find that ‘Mordet i Hammer Bakker’ does plod a little, more OK black metal than the raging fury of the death/black amalgam they now play with such flair but interesting if it is new to you.
I struggle, seriously, to think of a downside to this album and this band currently. I suppose you have to mention that ‘album’ is possibly stretching it here as we are talking 25 minutes only without the bonus tracks, but on the other hand we’re back to ‘they know what they’re doing and they know how long it should take’ mantra. Plus it will only cost you £5 from the band via their facebook page. I’d have loved a couple of new songs extra, but on the other hand what is here is fantastic, bludgeoning, and almost melodic in the way that only total death with hooks to spare can be.
Sturmtiger are dark, thick and cloying but every riff blasts or rolls and shakes until the tanks have passed and you are just broken limbs sticking out of the mud. Borderline brilliant.
(9.5/10 Gizmo)
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