LUCIFER'S HAMMER is a Chilean Heavy Metal band formed in 2012. "The Trip" is their third full-length album, released June 11, 2021 via High Roller Records. With their roots firmly set in a more traditional era, paying homage to some of the giants from the NWOBHM, they play complex tunes that tell stories and entertain the listeners.

The album starts with "The Oppression," a song that harkens back to early IRON MAIDEN. The drum intro is a little like "Where Eagles Dare," a classic tune that is instantly recognizable, just from that intro. Comparisons like this are likely what has LUCIFER'S HAMMER getting listed as part of the New Wave Of Traditional Heavy Metal (NWOTHM) that is gaining a significant following.

Next, we have "The Forest Of Tar Tac," a fast-paced anthemic sounding song with some really nice guitar fill work throughout. The melodic turn for the bridge and solos is nicely played and well timed. The whole song feels like classic heavy metal.

"Land Of Fire" is four minutes of great guitar work. The riff is good, the solos are on point. The rhythm is really good. The drums punctuate the riff well and the bass is solid, filling in the gaps and rounding out the sound. Overall, this is one of the better written and performed songs on the record.

"All Stories Come To An End" and "Illusion" both are well-paced. They move at a good tempo and have a lot of really good musicianship. The tempo shifts are a combination of influences from Progressive Metal and those classic NWOBHM bands that ruled the 1980s. This is honoring them without copying them.

"The Winds Of Destiny" is another straight nod to 80s heavy metal. The dual guitars, the galloping rhythm, the high-powered vocals... this song has it all. Twin leads that drift apart into individual solos are present, marking the trifecta of 80s awesomeness.

Wrapping the record up is "I Believe In You." This is a more melodic track, showing yet another side of the band. This leans towards traditional metal and has a more upbeat tone than much of the rest of the record. The prominent bass line still speaks to the NWOBHM influence throughout the rest of the album, so this does not feel like an outlier of a song, just a different style of composition.

LUCIFER'S HAMMER is not a group of guys playing at being in a band, they are true musicians who know how to write and play well-arranged songs. The tunes are complex and have lots of thoughtful arrangement to the compositions. Traditional heavy metal is still alive and kicking thanks to bands like this. Fans of the 80s will find a lot to like about this band. Still relatively new on the scene, they have a lot of promise and a lot to offer. I look forward to hearing where they go from here.