Artist: Siegehammer
Country: Spain
Label: Self-Released
Formats: Digital EP
Year: 2024
Only formed last year, this Spanish Death Metal band had already released a demo tape in the waning days of December 2023 and now arrived to its second release: ‘Spectral Entities’, a digital EP available through the band’s Bandcamp page. As far as I was told, a version on cassette tape is in the works, so those who are interested should keep an eye open.
‘Demo MMXXIII’ was quite a rough and unpolished affair, displaying some chaotic and pummelling Death Metal that clearly had the echo of a band like Sadistik Exekution. The two tracks on ‘Spectral Entities’, however, do show the band taking a slightly different musical turn when compared to ‘Demo MMXXIII’. Most striking perhaps is the updated sound quality, the minimalistic and quite shrill sounding production of the debut demo has been replaced by a rather fat and bellowing sound. This makes Siegehammer sound more close to such acts as Incantation, Disma and Rottrevore. The slower and more doomy parts, especially in the second song of the EP (or demo, if you will) benefits greatly from this heavier overall sound. It makes the slow and chugging riffs feel lower and more massive, while the eerie and sinister melodies makes it all even more creepy sounding.
Another significant update can be found in the drum department. While the band previously used programmed drums, this time they went for real drums, courtesy of Marc Rodriguez (Stygian Storm, Trollcave, Exhumation a.o.). That doesn’t only allows the music to sound less artificial and cold, it actually enhances the overall experience. In the meantime the band found a permanent drummer, so from now on Siegehammer continues on as a foursome.
Overall, this more measured and balanced riff-driven sound seems to work pretty well for the band too. While I definitely loved ‘Demo MMXXIII’ for its chaotic nature and relentless and cold sonic beating, it is up to the listener to see what they prefer as that first demo just got its reissue and is available through Profaner Records.
