Despite their spikey Satanic imagery and artwork, Portugal’s Martelo Negro (Black Hammer- their former moniker), present a far more varied and catchy sound on their second album  than their presentation would  have you believe. Rather than lo-fi black thrash, the band’s sound is a curiously addictive take on death n roll or black n roll that s chock full of riffs that recall the likes of Benediction’s Subconscious Terror, Motorhead, Celtic Frost and Massacre ( there’s lots of oooohs and heeeeeys) and even Terrorizer’s World Downfall.

It’s basic,and at times sloppy, but its rollicking as fuck with so many foot tapping head bobbing moments of thrashy, blackened, d beat, punky but downtuned and gravel throat-ed catchi-ness and sheer memorability that it will stay wormed in your brain for a while. The formula is simple and often repetitive, but effective as deep, gruff growls and sneers over lay simply drums and  catchy blasts and chugs canters. There’s nothing remotely game changing or world beating, this is just good ol fashioned riffs and more riffs.

The Portuguese spoken lyrics and pacing in some of the songs lend a little Brujeria vibe (think the band’s second more groove based album, Raza Odiada)  as heard on the above title track or “Sacramanto Maldito”, and the World Downfall riffage / guitar tone arises more than once with grindy punky sneer as heard on opener “Culto Hermetico”, “Anjos Captivos”, “Born Again Antichrist”, “Litergio de Excrementos”. But  simply look to “Ourobouros, Constrictoria” , “Inferno Abysmal” or “Um Dia em Texas (Paralisis Permanente)” to get a real feel for the albums tone and delivery and I dare you not to tap your feet. And in a year loaded with tech death and virtuosity, its actually kind of nice to return to a simpler, dumbed down raucous, fun sound such as this.

Before the outro the band close the album with a killer track that slows things down to a huge lurch and almost stoner groove for “Caronte” , a fitting end to the album that provided my a lot of entertainment, even being a limited edition LP, thank goodness for bandcamp and such.

 

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