Runhild Gammelsæter (vocals), Jamie Sykes (battledrums), Greg Anderson (drones and sunns), James Hale (subsonic attack) & Steve O'Malley (crust and earth)
HOMETOWN: Ballard, Seattle, Washington, USA. EXISTENCE: Since 1994 to 1995. FORMERLY: From the liner notes to Dommedagsnatt: "Thorr's Hammer was formed in the sleepy nordic village of Ballard, Washington [Scandinavian neighborhood in Seattle -h] by guitarists Greg Anderson and Stephen O'Malley during the mammoth stoned winter of 1994-1995. This cold collaboration was finally realized when the unholy blessing of seventeen year old Norwegian native Runhild Gammelsæter was bestowed upon the project via her amazing vocals and lyrics. After adding the thunderous war-rhythm section of Jamie Sykes and James Hale the onslaught began. Six weeks, two concerts and a recording session later Thorr's Hammer disbanded due to Runhild's departure back to Oslo, Norway. With the hunger of ressurecting the spirit which once was, this release stands as a tribute to her return." NOW: Southern Lord Recordings presents it's maiden voyage into darkness: the cult recording by the black doom act Thorr's Hammer. Previously only available through Moribound on cassette, this highly anticipiated release is at last available in all its glory on Compact Disc. Thorr's Hammer is raw nihilistic doom featuring the unbelievable vocals of Norwegian goddess Ozma. Presented in her native Norwegian tongue, Ozma' gutteral dark vocals are contrasted by beautiful singing creating a huanting atmosphere. Funeral dirge is provided by the collaberation of Stephen O'Malley (Burning Witch/SUNN0)))) and Greg Anderson (ex-Engine Kid/SUNN0)))/Goatsnake). Jamie Sykes (Burning Witch/Wardrums, ex-CODENAME F.A.D.G.E.) and James Hale (Subharmonics). This union is raw, low and heavy as fuck, reminiscent of elder gods HELLHAMMER/CELTIC FROST,SABBATH, AND VENOM. The CD contains the original three demo tracks (from 1995) and a recently unearthed live recording ("Mellom Galgene") all originally created in the stoned winter of 1994-1995. They have now been remastered with the expertise of Count Schneeberger (ST. VITUS, OBSESSED,etc.)....over one half hour of grim melancholy. THEN: You will have gathered from the above that the rest of the band became Burning Witch when Runhild went back to Norway. If you know anything about Burning Witch, you know half of the Thorr's Hammer story (that is, the glacial grinding doom part). The other half is Runhild's vocals, which are partly sung (in a low monotone-ish wandering voice) and partly growled (and you'll have a hard time believing the growl didn't come out of a 7-foot bear with ten tattoos and a pitchshifter). Quite nice.
A pre Supersonic Festival podcast on Brumcast to give you all a taster of things to come – part 1 of the playlist includes Tweak Bird, Zu, Diagonal, Corrupted and Head of David.
Supersonic are delighted to confirm that SUNN O))) have been confirmed for this year’s festival in Birmingham. The show will be the first SUNN O))) performance in the UK since the release of Monoliths and Dimensions and the ONLY European performance this summer.
SUNN O))) will be playing material from GrimmRobe demos exclusively. Expect pure, raw, uninhibited invocations featuring O)))’s core members: Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson and accompanied by 2 Les Paul guitars, 4 Sunn fullstacks and 4 Ampeg bass stacks. No guests, no vocals, no keyboards. We hope you will join us!
They join: Army Of Flying Robots / Atomized / Drum Eyes / Kylie Minoise / PCM / Scorn / Taint / Venetian Snares / Dialed In - Bobby Previte vs VJ Benton-C Bainbridge / Corrupted / Diaganol / Flower/Corsano Duo / Growing / Iron Lung / Kim Hiorthoy / Light Trap / Marnie Stern / Master Musicians Of Bukkake / Monotonix / Nisenenmondai / Remember Remember / Rose Kemp / Skullflower / Tartufi / The Accused / Thought Forms / Thorr’s Hammer / Tweak Bird / Zu / 65 Days Of Static / Arbouretum / Caribou / Chris Herbert / Earthless / Goblin / Head Of David / Jarboe / Khyam Allami / Nancy Wallace / Pontiak / Pram / Pre / Theo / The Memory Band / zZz
Hey thanks for accepting our request, we hope you like our music. See you on a Gwydion show! Our merchandise is available for sale, to order send mail to: shop@gwydion.org or do it in our myspace.
Funeral Hails from Puerto Rico Thorr's Hammer. Thanks for the add and for your support. Also to inform you that a new song called "Obsessio Funestus" has been uploaded. I hope you enjoy it... Carpe Diem
- Calaver
- And in the midst of the lugubrious night she remained..."
