I didn't even know MASTER'S HAMMER were about to release a new album, so the arrival of "Mantras" (synonym for "word of truth") at the Metal Temple headquarters hit me out of the blue like a thunder! It seems I can't hide my excitement about these guys, huh? Some of you may not know these guys, but they have a long running history and unfortunately never managed to get out of the underground.

MASTER'S HAMMER was born in 1983 in Prague, Czech Republic. The band's weird Black Metal sound made many people spend some time on them, and their standard "high quality" releases made them a huge influence on many bands that are considered titans today. After all, let's not forget that BEHEMOTH covered the song "Jama Pekel" in their "Ezkaton" (2008) EP.

What is that element that makes MASTER'S HAMMER differ from the rest of the Black Metal scene? First of all, what defined the band's sound back then was the occult and medieval atmosphere that was surrounding their music. The creepy keyboards were "dressing" the already grim music in a veil of lost Czech traditions. One more thing that MASTER'S HAMMER was always known for is its members' constant experimentation. That's also what happens in "Mantras". This "medieval" atmosphere is not that intense in here, but the haunting Black Metal melodies and Storm's sickening vocals are still present, with the keys being more discreet, but surely schizophrenic, as always. The sound has this distinctive flat aesthetic the band always had, but somehow it doesn't makes you get tired or something, it is just one of the band's "secret" ingredients for this occult orgy you will have to face if you listen to this album.

What is impressive is that the band manages to be extreme without even being really brutal. I mean, with just raw vocals, guitars that tend to sound Heavy Metal, creepy keyboards and a drummer that just won't relax, MASTER'S HAMMER produce this bizarre schizophrenic music that will leave the most grotesque images imprinted in your brain. They were silent for 14 whole years, but we're surely glad they are back!
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