HAMMERS RULE - Show No Mercy / After The Bomb (12" LP and 7" LP on Black Vinyl)
United States | Heavy
Detailed Description
US-Metal underground classic -featuring bonus songs from the „After The Bomb" EP (1985) -vinyl transfer and cleaning by Patrick Engel, Restoration & Remastering by Neudi -booklet with liner notes based on a new interview with the three surviving bandmembers -original USA LP-coverartwork (+ „After The Bomb" artwork inside) -one of the best rhythm-sections in the history of Heavy Metal For a long time it seemed impossible that this gem of US metal would be officially re-released. Even before Golden Core, labels contacted the three former band members who were still alive, but all they got were refusals. "At some point, we just got along on a completely different level than just business, and at some point we got the green light," reports Golden Core A&R, who himself is a fan of the long-disbanded group from Baltimore, but also a musician. Hammers Rule (the name comes from the thanks list of Iron Maiden's first LP) were simply over the top! They financed an impressive stage show with all kinds of effects and custom-made leather outfits before they even had a record on the market. When no major label took the chance (almost normal in 1984), the band had no interest in leaving the material in the hands of an independent company and produced (as Tangent Records) a complete album themselves with the support of Web (Satan's Host, among others): "Show No Mercy". The first edition in white vinyl sold very well, but only reached import shops in Europe. The same was true for the EP "After The Bomb", released under similar conditions one year later. This contained two new tracks (and two from the LP). Nevertheless, there were many enthusiastic reactions from Germany and so they licensed a compilation of the LP and the EP under the name "After The Bomb" to the German company with probably the worst reputation in the business: Metal Enterprises! Insiders like to joke here "So the label finally had something good!", but Hammers Rule was in no mood to laugh when, without their knowledge, a series of demo tracks was offered as a second album. Today, the musicians still vehemently distance themselves from this illegal product (LP and CD) and also on this re-release we respect the former members' wish to let this annoying chapter rest. Hammers Rule did not want to commit themselves in terms of heaviness and thus cover an enormously broad spectrum of US metal. While the first four tracks can be classified between epic, heavy and speed metal (as well as the two EP tracks "Kamikaze" and "Stop The World"), the B-side of the original LP was a bit more accessible and also fits well with the high hairspray consumption of the eighties. But these tracks are also full of energy and playfulness. One of the reasons is the incredibly good rhythm section of drummer Chuck Hohn (with only one bass drum!!) and bassist Shaun Henley. The two musicians operated on the same level as Steve Harris and Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden). In addition, the powerful omnipresent bass impressively replaces a second guitar. The album and also the EP were mostly recorded live in the studio. But, one of the most important arguments is that metal fans worldwide have waited many years for this re-release.
