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Deathhammer
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Deathhammer
Album: Deathhammer
Released: Feb 28, 2012
Label: Century Media

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Biography

In 2007, roughly 20 years after the band’s original formation, the metal community revelled in the return of Dutch doom/death pioneers ASPHYX during their outstanding live reunion performance at Germany’s Party.San Open Air. This unforgettable show resulted in legions of underground supporters yearning for a proper comeback and when the band’s acclaimed 2009 studio album “Death...The Brutal Way” finally hit the scene like a carpet bombing every single doubt was erased in its devastating aftermath - ASPHYX were f**king back! Countless live gigs and festival shows (like the Arnhem Metal Meeting (NL), Hole In The Sky Festival (NOR), Rock Hard Festival (D), Maryland Deathfest (US), With Full Force Festival (D), Deathfeast (D), Brutal Assault (CZ), Hellfest (F), etc.) followed, showing that these four death metal loyalists still had more than enough power, puff and pleasure to keep fighting onwards for the old school death metal cause for years to come. Consequently, 2010 brought the first ever official ASPHYX DVD and live album “Live Death Doom”, combining an over-two-hour-long live show, band documentary and tons of bonus material into a perfect package for their many faithful fans, who have made the band’s two decades of (diabolical) existence such a remarkable and successful ride.

Unlike many other reunions these days, the interest in ASPHYX appears bigger now than back in the early 90’s when tours with Entombed, Bolt Thrower, Benediction and classic album releases like “The Rack” and “Last One On Earth” carved the band moniker deep into the annals of death metal history, but nevertheless failed to give the band a smooth run through the hurdles of the music business. However, when every other band was all of a sudden obsessed with “faster and more technical” challenges, ASPHYX were responsible for establishing a traditionalistic sound that was influenced by Venom, Hellhammer, Necrophagia, Messiah and Slaughter, and easily recognizable due to its doomy groove, chainsaw-like guitar sound, ominous atmosphere, pounding drums and the unbelievably insane death-roar of the mighty Martin van Drunen. Apparently, this has proven to be a timeless and trend-defeating formula, demonstrated by the band’s effortless and successful rise in today’s diverse and unmanageable world of extreme music, where ASPHYX are now massively appreciated for their straight-forward, authentic approach. Still defying all ‘progressing’ developments towards a more complex and modern sound, ASPHYX have now, with “Deathhammer”, decided to lay down the law of pure and honest death metal as it was, is and shall remain to be for ages to come!

You can call it old-fashioned or anachronistic, but as vocalist Martin van Drunen makes very clear when describing ASPHYX’s new album in his own words…these guys simply do not care: “Deathhammer stands more or less for a fictional book or guidance on how death metal is supposed to be made and how it should sound like. The name is derived from the Witchhammer, an infamous book from the middle-ages that dealt with identifying witches and heretics, manors of interrogation and punishment - a how-to for the inquisition! Simply put, the “Deathhammer” deals with the heretics in death metal today. Many are found guilty, and ASPHYX functions as judge, jury and executioner…all by the law of the “Deathhammer”, in which mercy is a word never written.”

Known as musicians that wear their hearts on their sleeve, the members of ASPHYX proudly declare that “Deathhammer” is their best, heaviest, and most brutal opus. And once you hear tracks like the short, sharp-shock opening “Into The Timewastes”, the merciless attack of “Reign Of The Brute”, the all-annihilating title track, the crushing war-themed tunes “Minefield” and “Der Landser”, the catchy “We Doom You To Death” and the epic closing track “As The Magma Mammoth Rises”, you might be easily inclined to agree. No-frills, uncompromising death metal played with guts and balls is what ASPHYX continues to stand for, and “Deathhammer” clearly profits from the band’s relentless routine and strengthened team spirit. Van Drunen adds: “We evolved, in all possible ways, and lived to compose and record this album…all with a shitload of pride. Paul’s riffing has never been this perfect, Bob’s drumming is like clockwork, we finally have a marvellously drilling bass sound courtesy of Alwin and my vox are the best I’ve ever done on an ASPHYX album. The song “Deathhammer” I did in one take, for example. See who can beat that.”

Recording at the legendary Harrow Studio in their native Netherlands with long-time engineer Harry Wijering (who also produced the classic ASPHYX albums 2 decades ago), consulting with Sweden’s Dan Swanö (who also assisted with “Death...The Brutal Way” and “Live Death Doom”) for mixing and mastering duties, and enlisting the help of artistic mastermind Axel Hermann (who also created the artwork for the band’s past cult records), ASPHYX have created an album in “Deathhammer” that exudes a perfect balance of rawness and sheer impact.

You should have realized by now that the ASPHYX of 2012 have never been so confidently enthusiastic about an album and have never been more ‘true’ to their own status as living legends of old-school death metal. “Deathhammer” guarantees pure death metal rapture. So put this on, crank it up and trust Mr. van Drunen when he proclaims: “You cannot get more Death Metal than this!”. Now bow down to the “Deathhammer”…

DISCOGRAPHY

Rehearsals, Demo’s & Promos Rehearsals, Demo’s & Promos
1988 “Carnage Remains” reh.
1989 “Enter the Domain” reh.demo
1989 “Crush the Cenotaph” demo
1989 “Crush the Cenotaph” (remixed) demo
1991 “Promo 1991” promo tape
1995 “Promo 1995” promo tape
1996 “Promo 1996” (as Soulburn) demo


EP, 12”, LP, CD & Cassette
1990 “Mutilating Process” EP
1991 “The Rack” LP/CD/Cass
1992 “Crush the Cenotaph” 12”/CD/Cass
1992 “Last One on Earth” LP/CD/Cass
1994 “Asphyx” CD/Cass
1996 “God Cries” CD/Cass
1996 “Embrace the Death” CD (LP released in 2005)
1998 “Feeding on Angels” (as Soulburn) PD/CD
2000 “On the Wings of Inferno” LP/CD
2009 "Death...The Brutal Way"" LP / CD
2012 "Deathhammer" LP / CD

Compilations
1991 “In the Eyes of Death” LP/CD
1998 “Feuerstürm Vol II” (as Soulburn) CD
1998 “Am I Metal? Yes I am!” (as Soulburn) CD
1999 “Serial Thriller” CD

Check out the "Deathhammer" video:

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Members

Martin Van Drunen - Vocals
Paul Baayens - Guitars
Alwin Zuur - Bass
Bob Bagchus - Drums

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