One Listen Review
1st Listen 5 Feb 26
Reviewed 9 Feb 26
Dark Thoughts With Lights Out
Road to Masochist
Released 6 Feb 26
Cattle Hammer have a band-name that screams doomy/drone/sludge and their 2nd album, Dark Thoughts With Lights Out just serves to support this.
This album is heavy. Make no excuses, just settle yourself down for a 45 minute bludgeoning and welcome the pain. The fact that there are only 4 tracks again tells you this is doom. Have I mentioned it is heavy, fuck-off heavy? Because it is.
Album opener, ‘Gloomsower’ has big meaty riffs and guitarist/vocalist, Duncan Wilkins has the vocals ripped, unformed, from his throat. Almost black metal in style, the torture can be felt. The track creates the whole vibe, if vibe is not to happy a word, of the album. It is a heavy start, and it just gets heavier.
‘Rotting’ follows, and the riff is utterly unrelenting. The vocals are vomited out with throat-ripping simplicity. They are very effective. The track
meanders along, pummelling you with unfettered glee. Cattle Hammer are not a band to ease off, they control the environment, knowing exactly what they want to deliver.
The remaining 2 tracks, ‘Watchmen, Alone’ and ‘Body Puzzle’deliver the same big doomy drone riffs, and it dawns on you that this will be a mood album for the casual metal fan. Whereas, doom/drone aficionados will adore the attack of Dark Thoughts With Lights Out, they will love the uncompromising riffs and the magnificent vocals.
Alas, the ‘mood’ requirement means this will not be an easy go-to album for me, but it is utterly worthy of more than this 1 listen review.
Did I mention it is heavy?
The DevilsHorns 
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