Hammers of Misfortune
Encyclopedia
Hammers of Misfortune is a progressive heavy metal band from San Francisco, California
. The band's style has varied from album to album, at times incorporating different elements of folk metal
, doom metal
, NWOBHM, black metal
, '70s rock, and thrash metal
. It is the brainchild of guitarist John Cobbett, who serves as the band's producer and primary songwriter.
, they recorded a full album's worth of material in their rehearsal space. However, only three of these nine tracks were included on the band's aptly titled Demo #1, and the majority of the material remained unreleased until 2011, when Shadow Kingdom Records released the entire recording as the Unholy Cadaver LP. Unholy Cadaver's output laid the groundwork for what would become Hammers of Misfortune's signature style, but it also contained elements of black metal (mainly in John Cobbett's vocals) that would be phased out in future recordings.
In 2000, the band changed its name to Hammers of Misfortune, taking its moniker from a track on Unholy Cadaver's Demo #1. Recruiting Mike Scalzi and Janis Tanaka (formerly of Fireball Ministry and L7
), the band released its 2001 album The Bastard
(on San Francisco-based Tumult Records). The Bastard is a concept album with a 3-act tale of royalty and betrayal. This album received many positive reviews in the metal community, including several "best of 2001" awards from magazines such as Terrorizer and Lamentations Of The Flame Princess.
In 2003 the band signed a deal with Cruz Del Sur Music, releasing their second album The August Engine
by the end of the same year. This album was also well received by the metal community, getting a 10/10 review from Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles magazine among other acclamations. After The August Engine
, Janis Tanaka left the band and was replaced by Jamie Myers.
After The Locust Years
, there was a large lineup change. Mike Scalzi left the band, in order to focus on his main band, The Lord Weird Slough Feg
, and Jamie Myers left the band in order to raise a family. Scalzi was replaced by Patrick Goodwin, and Jesse Quattro replaced Myers. The original drummer, Chewy, rejoined the band. With this new lineup, the band recorded the double album, Fields/Church of Broken Glass
, in 2008. However, this lineup was not to last, as Quattro and Goodwin parted ways with the band in 2010. Cobbett subsequently recruited guitarist/vocalist Leila Abdul-Rauf and lead vocalist Joe Hutton.
In March 2010, Hammers of Misfortune announced that they had signed a record deal with Metal Blade Records. Since then, Metal Blade has re-released The Bastard
, The August Engine
, The Locust Years
, and Fields/Church of Broken Glass
. In October 2011, the band produced their fifth studio album, 17th Street
.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The band's style has varied from album to album, at times incorporating different elements of folk metal
Folk metal
Folk metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. As the name suggests, the genre is a fusion of heavy metal with traditional folk music...
, doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
, NWOBHM, black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
, '70s rock, and thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
. It is the brainchild of guitarist John Cobbett, who serves as the band's producer and primary songwriter.
History
Hammers of Misfortune was formed in the mid-1990s under the name Unholy Cadaver. At the time, the only members were guitarist John Cobbett and drummer Chewy Marzolo, both of whom shared vocal duties. Enlisting the help of other musicians, among them Mike Scalzi of The Lord Weird Slough FegThe Lord Weird Slough Feg
Slough Feg is a Heavy Metal band that formed in Pennsylvania in the early 1990s and is currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Taking their name from the Celtic folklore-influenced comic Sláine, the band released their self-titled debut album in 1996...
, they recorded a full album's worth of material in their rehearsal space. However, only three of these nine tracks were included on the band's aptly titled Demo #1, and the majority of the material remained unreleased until 2011, when Shadow Kingdom Records released the entire recording as the Unholy Cadaver LP. Unholy Cadaver's output laid the groundwork for what would become Hammers of Misfortune's signature style, but it also contained elements of black metal (mainly in John Cobbett's vocals) that would be phased out in future recordings.
In 2000, the band changed its name to Hammers of Misfortune, taking its moniker from a track on Unholy Cadaver's Demo #1. Recruiting Mike Scalzi and Janis Tanaka (formerly of Fireball Ministry and L7
L7 (band)
L7 was an American rock band from Los Angeles, that was active from 1985 to 2000. Due to their sound and image, they are often associated with the grunge movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s.-History:...
), the band released its 2001 album The Bastard
The Bastard (album)
The Bastard is the debut album by the American progressive/heavy metal band Hammers of Misfortune.-Track listing:-Personnel:Hammers of Misfortune* John Cobbett electric guitar, acoustic guitar, screams* Chewy Marzolo drums...
(on San Francisco-based Tumult Records). The Bastard is a concept album with a 3-act tale of royalty and betrayal. This album received many positive reviews in the metal community, including several "best of 2001" awards from magazines such as Terrorizer and Lamentations Of The Flame Princess.
In 2003 the band signed a deal with Cruz Del Sur Music, releasing their second album The August Engine
The August Engine
The August Engine is the second studio album by the American progressive/heavy metal band Hammers of Misfortune.-Track listing:-Personnel:Hammers of Misfortune* John Cobbett guitar* Chewy Marzolo drums* Janis Tanaka bass, vocals...
by the end of the same year. This album was also well received by the metal community, getting a 10/10 review from Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles magazine among other acclamations. After The August Engine
The August Engine
The August Engine is the second studio album by the American progressive/heavy metal band Hammers of Misfortune.-Track listing:-Personnel:Hammers of Misfortune* John Cobbett guitar* Chewy Marzolo drums* Janis Tanaka bass, vocals...
, Janis Tanaka left the band and was replaced by Jamie Myers.
After The Locust Years
The Locust Years
The Locust Years is the 3rd studio album by the progressive metal band Hammers of Misfortune.-Track listing:# "The Locust Years" - 7:32# "We Are the Widows" - 3:17# "Trot Out the Dead" - 4:13# "Famine's Lamp" - 5:15# "Chastity Rides" - 6:06...
, there was a large lineup change. Mike Scalzi left the band, in order to focus on his main band, The Lord Weird Slough Feg
The Lord Weird Slough Feg
Slough Feg is a Heavy Metal band that formed in Pennsylvania in the early 1990s and is currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Taking their name from the Celtic folklore-influenced comic Sláine, the band released their self-titled debut album in 1996...
, and Jamie Myers left the band in order to raise a family. Scalzi was replaced by Patrick Goodwin, and Jesse Quattro replaced Myers. The original drummer, Chewy, rejoined the band. With this new lineup, the band recorded the double album, Fields/Church of Broken Glass
Fields/Church of Broken Glass
Fields/Church of Broken Glass is the 4th studio album by the progressive metal band Hammers of Misfortune, released in 2008. It consists of two Concept albums of smaller length, Fields and Church of Broken Glass...
, in 2008. However, this lineup was not to last, as Quattro and Goodwin parted ways with the band in 2010. Cobbett subsequently recruited guitarist/vocalist Leila Abdul-Rauf and lead vocalist Joe Hutton.
In March 2010, Hammers of Misfortune announced that they had signed a record deal with Metal Blade Records. Since then, Metal Blade has re-released The Bastard
The Bastard (album)
The Bastard is the debut album by the American progressive/heavy metal band Hammers of Misfortune.-Track listing:-Personnel:Hammers of Misfortune* John Cobbett electric guitar, acoustic guitar, screams* Chewy Marzolo drums...
, The August Engine
The August Engine
The August Engine is the second studio album by the American progressive/heavy metal band Hammers of Misfortune.-Track listing:-Personnel:Hammers of Misfortune* John Cobbett guitar* Chewy Marzolo drums* Janis Tanaka bass, vocals...
, The Locust Years
The Locust Years
The Locust Years is the 3rd studio album by the progressive metal band Hammers of Misfortune.-Track listing:# "The Locust Years" - 7:32# "We Are the Widows" - 3:17# "Trot Out the Dead" - 4:13# "Famine's Lamp" - 5:15# "Chastity Rides" - 6:06...
, and Fields/Church of Broken Glass
Fields/Church of Broken Glass
Fields/Church of Broken Glass is the 4th studio album by the progressive metal band Hammers of Misfortune, released in 2008. It consists of two Concept albums of smaller length, Fields and Church of Broken Glass...
. In October 2011, the band produced their fifth studio album, 17th Street
17th Street (album)
17th Street is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band Hammers of Misfortune, released in October 2011 by Metal Blade Records.- Tracklist :# 317# 17th Street# The Grain# Staring # The Day the City Died# Romance Valley...
.
Discography
- Unholy Cadaver EP (1998) - as Unholy Cadaver
- The BastardThe Bastard (album)The Bastard is the debut album by the American progressive/heavy metal band Hammers of Misfortune.-Track listing:-Personnel:Hammers of Misfortune* John Cobbett electric guitar, acoustic guitar, screams* Chewy Marzolo drums...
(2001) - The August EngineThe August EngineThe August Engine is the second studio album by the American progressive/heavy metal band Hammers of Misfortune.-Track listing:-Personnel:Hammers of Misfortune* John Cobbett guitar* Chewy Marzolo drums* Janis Tanaka bass, vocals...
(2003) - The Locust YearsThe Locust YearsThe Locust Years is the 3rd studio album by the progressive metal band Hammers of Misfortune.-Track listing:# "The Locust Years" - 7:32# "We Are the Widows" - 3:17# "Trot Out the Dead" - 4:13# "Famine's Lamp" - 5:15# "Chastity Rides" - 6:06...
(2006) - Fields/Church of Broken GlassFields/Church of Broken GlassFields/Church of Broken Glass is the 4th studio album by the progressive metal band Hammers of Misfortune, released in 2008. It consists of two Concept albums of smaller length, Fields and Church of Broken Glass...
(2008) - 17th Street17th Street (album)17th Street is the fifth studio album by the American heavy metal band Hammers of Misfortune, released in October 2011 by Metal Blade Records.- Tracklist :# 317# 17th Street# The Grain# Staring # The Day the City Died# Romance Valley...
(2011)
Current
- John Cobbett - Guitars (ex-The Lord Weird Slough FegThe Lord Weird Slough FegSlough Feg is a Heavy Metal band that formed in Pennsylvania in the early 1990s and is currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Taking their name from the Celtic folklore-influenced comic Sláine, the band released their self-titled debut album in 1996...
, LudicraLudicraLudicra was a metal band from San Francisco. They originally formed in 1998 as a quartet and later expanded to five members. Ludicra's sound has been described as black metal or as avant-garde metal. Influences include bands such as Darkthrone, Gorgoroth, Dødheimsgard, and Bethlehem, and genres...
, Amber AsylumAmber AsylumAmber Asylum is a highly-variable San Francisco-based music group that serves as a platform for composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Kris Force...
, JarboeJarboeJarboe is an American singer, songwriter, and keyboardist.Jarboe is a solo artist who came to prominence in the mid-1980s with the New York City based group Swans. With founder Michael Gira, the duo was the core of Swans until the group broke up in 1998...
, Malefice (DC)) - Joe Hutton (The Worship of Silence) - Vocals
- Leila Abdul-Rauf (SarosSaros (band)Saros is a progressive death / doom metal band based out of San Francisco, California. The band was formed in 2004 and has released a demo and one full length . The album features the band's distinct epic song structure, melded to fast paced melodic riffing...
, Amber AsylumAmber AsylumAmber Asylum is a highly-variable San Francisco-based music group that serves as a platform for composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Kris Force...
) - Guitar, Vocal - Sigrid Sheie (Amber AsylumAmber AsylumAmber Asylum is a highly-variable San Francisco-based music group that serves as a platform for composer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Kris Force...
) Keyboards, Vocals - Max Barnett (ex-Old Grandad) - Bass
- Chewy Marzolo (King City) - Drums
Former members
- Janis TanakaJanis TanakaJanis Tanaka is a bass player who has worked as a session musician and on tour with a number of well-known artists including Pink, Fireball Ministry, Hammers of Misfortune, Pagan Babies, Stone Fox and L7....
- Bass, Vocals (ex-Fireball MinistryFireball MinistryFireball Ministry is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California formed in 1999.- Biography :Conceived in Cincinnati in the late '90s by James A. Rota II and Emily Burton, the band moved to New York City before settling in Los Angeles. In 2000 they performed at the two-day "November...
, L7L7 (band)L7 was an American rock band from Los Angeles, that was active from 1985 to 2000. Due to their sound and image, they are often associated with the grunge movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s.-History:...
, Stone Fox) - Mike Scalzi - Guitars, Vocals (The Lord Weird Slough FegThe Lord Weird Slough FegSlough Feg is a Heavy Metal band that formed in Pennsylvania in the early 1990s and is currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Taking their name from the Celtic folklore-influenced comic Sláine, the band released their self-titled debut album in 1996...
) - Jamie Myers - Bass, Vocals (Like Flies on Flesh)
- Ron Nichols (Fracas, Grinch, Christ on ParadeChrist On ParadeChrist on Parade was a mid-late 1980s San Francisco East Bay political hardcore punk band, formed in 1985 by ex-members of Teenage Warning and peace punks Treason. Their debut, "Sounds of Nature" was issued on Pusmort Records. The group featured vocalist Barrie Evans, guitarists Mike Scott and Noah...
) - Bass - Patrick Goodwin - Guitar, Vocals
- Jesse Quattro - Vocals