Hammers of Misfortune

The mythical story line that propelled Hammers of Misfortune's acclaimed debut The Bastard helped set the band apart from its less-ambitious contemporaries in 2001. On the group's latest effort, though, local metal auteur John Cobbett ditches fantasy for an apocalyptic theme ripped straight from today's bloodstained headlines. The Locust Years focuses an unblinking eye on the madness of the Bush administration's holy war, delivering a powerful indictment with a mix of barbed-wire riffs, complex arrangements, and venomous lyrics. While the snarling title track and "Trot Out the Dead" spotlight Mike Scalzi's commanding vocals and intricate six-string interplay with Cobbett, keyboardist Sigrid Sheie takes a more prominent role than on past efforts with her melancholy piano and stately Hammond B-3 swells. Whether thickening the waltzing dirge of "We Are the Widows" or adding filigree to the doomed beauty of "Famine's Lamp" (arguably the most exquisite song Cobbett has written for the group), Sheie's contributions help elevate the vision and sound of The Locust Years to a new level. Headbangers concerned about Hammers of Misfortune transforming into ELP needn't worry; the martial "War Anthem" with its fierce marching-drum breakdown and the dizzying instrumental "Election Day" show Cobbett and company remain dedicated to their distinctive brand of metal. — Dave Pehling