Demolition Hammer – Epidemic Of Violence

Demolition Hammer. The very name causes your pulse to quicken. You look at the name of the album. Epidemic of Violence?!? You swallow nervously as your heart starts beating faster. Flipping the record over you see the listing for the first track... Skull. Fracturing. Nightmare. Now your breath is coming in short gasps. Trembling hands place the disc into the tray. The CD slides in. The play button is pressed... Thirty-nine minutes and thirty-three seconds later the music stops. The only sound left is the hissing as the remaining body fluids evaporate, leaving only blackened skin and dried bones upon the floor.

Epidemic of Violence is an exercise in intensity and technical perfection performed by one of the greatest Thrash bands to grace the face of this old world. There is not a song on this album that is in the slightest way dull or too long for its own good. There were few good Thrash albums coming from the US in '92, and fewer that traveled in speeds in excess of a used Prius with a flat tire. This is one of those few.

Demolition Hammer's influences included the Bay & NY Thrash scene, NY Hardcore, and Sepultura, but contained more than enough of their own sound to differentiate them from their contemporaries. Of particular note is the absolute savagery displayed on this record, rivaling many Death Metal bands even. As such this album will appeal to fans both of that and the Thrash scene.