Formed back in 2007, DAMNATIONS HAMMER have made waves in the UK scene - for all the right reasons - and garnered support in every which way. The quartet have recently supported thrashers VOIVOD, XENTRIX, and SACRED REICH on their UK tours, and previously played at Bloodstock and Incineration Fest - gathering critical acclaim at each of these shows - giving fans and festival goers flawless and memorable performances. DAMNATIONS HAMMER have previously released two solid albums, laying their foundations in the sound of avant-garde metal of the 1980's, incorporating a smog of dark, doom-smeared, thrash-tinged heavy metal. Now, the band returns with its third full-length opus in full bloom, "Into the Silent Nebula", a balanced heavy metal affair that retains its 80's kicks, peppered with thrash, doom and death to plunge the listener into a world of torment and aggression over eight immense tracks.

The calibre of guest appearances on "Into the Silent Nebula" from Fenriz of DARKTHRONE, Sakis of ROTTING CHRIST, and Aaron Stainthorpe of MY DYING BRIDE, should be enough to pique your interest, and with names like these stamping their approval on DAMNATIONS HAMMER third opus, you're guaranteed high-quality musicianship and progressive concepts. This eight-track wonder is as muscular as a roids riddled bodybuilder with serious brawn that packs a punch from start to finish, with the album's "In the Mouth of Madness" inspired intro, "Sutter Cane", offering enough beefed-up riffs to satisfy every insatiable audial carnivore. The fleshed-out and strapping tones of "Do Not Disturb the Watchmaker" foam with snarling riffs and plenty of apoplexy to carry their heavy load into "Outpost 31", where doom passages and heavy metal ferocity marry in an ominous homage to iconic horror film, "The Thing", and paint a picture of chaos, fear, and tumult - with special note of the thunderous solo that bridges this burly track - all slathered in a dark and dripping bassline.

Asides from the band's ineffable ability to orchestrate vivid imagery in their musicianship, one of their strongest components is Preston's cords. The natural minor tonality to his vocals offers an authentic abrasion in his delivery, only adding to the necessary unnerve and causticity each cut of "Into the Silent Nebula" demands, especially felt in the title-track with its command of hefty fills, weighty passages, and temporal switches that range from dismal doom right through to the thrashier end of the spectrum. "The Silent Nebula" offers a brief pause and a moment to savour the dazzling musicianship of DAMNATIONS HAMMER in a robust and perfectly poised, blues-tinged doom instrumental, merging into the smack of the thunderously low-end loaded "The Call of the Void", transforming into the final moment of doom-tinged moodiness in "The Moon and the Waters of Death", where thick and strapping tones relentlessly pour into your ears, with the bass work capturing the essence of dread and fear perfectly.

It's been over fifteen years since their inception, and DAMNATIONS HAMMER show that their odyssey to reach the helm of UK metal has been worthwhile and deserved. Time, experience, and a focus on "quality over quantity" with their releases have elevated the band's innovations and flair for creating substantial heavy metal with "Into the Silent Nebula" culminating as their best work yet. The album demonstrates that DAMNATIONS HAMMER have harnessed their strengths and heavy artillery over previous works to forge an amalgamation of cohesive and devastating nuances - all executed with the attitude, assertion, and brawn of a tenacious band with natural synergy - to produce a sophisticated and enjoyable full-length.