Hammers of Misfortune is an American band that deserves to gain the attention of the crowd. The “17th Street” is their 5th album and it has something for every fan to like. Their music is a special kind of progressive metal. Hammers of Misfortune combine classic rock, NWOBHM, doom metal and folk music. The resulting sound is surprisingly cohesive and really original. Something that seems to be missing these days in music…
The songs are really powerful and melodic without being really heavy or aggressive. The opening track “317” really sets the bar for the rest of the album. Great guitar work from Mr Cobbett and the new guitarist Leila Abdul-Rauf, with riffs that stick to the ear. Also the Hammond organ completes the rest of the instruments. The title track quickens the pace with a nice stomping and galloping drum base.
In the middle of the album you can find two true gems… “The Grain” and “The Day The City Died” are the best songs in the album. “The Grain” is a really melodic heavy metal song filled with feeling and great texture. “The Day the City Died” really gave me a Thin Lizzy/Jethro Tull feeling from start to finish.
All in all, in a year with many great releases this is a great outsider. There’s a lot going on musically in this album but the resulting sound is not complex, or difficult to listen to. On the contrary, it is a very rich album that feels really simple.
After several listening sessions of the album I find more and more things to admire in this band. The “17th Street” is a must listen for all heavy metal fans. Maybe the fifth album is the charm for the Americans who deserve more attention.
