Asphyx: Deathhammer (2012)

If All You Have Is a Hammer . . .

Dutch legends Asphyx aren't old-school death metal, but they're not modern death metal either. They're not quite slow enough to be death/doom, they're not quite Swedish-sounding enough to be Swe-death, and they're not tech-death either. Thus, the title of Deathhammer is particularly apt.

Sometimes, a hammer is exactly what you need. It's nothing fancy. It's not controversial. It doesn't have a particularly compelling story behind it. But when you need a hammer, you damn well need a hammer. There's no fancy new tool that can do the job any better, and no "good old days" when there used to be a better tool.


There are subtle things that separate a passable hammer from a great hammer: The precise shape and balance, the materials and weight, the grip. If you buy a really good hammer, you will never regret it, and you will never have to buy a new one.

Deathhammer is a great hammer. Excellent, heavy production. Great sound. Tempo and riff changes. Most of all, catchy tunes (especially toward the end).



The Verdict: Deathhammer is nothing fancy, but it's an amazingly well-crafted example of nothing fancy. I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Buy Deathhammer