Hammers of Misfortune - 17th Street
Full disclosure: I’m from San Francisco and I’ve been in and around the local Metal scene for 20+ years. I’ve known John Cobbett since he booked shows at the Covered Wagon (Lucifer’s Hammer night!) with Aesop (currently drumming for Agolloch). I’ve seen this band live any number of times (with several different line-ups), starting back when they were known as Unholy Cadaver. I don’t normally listen to Progressive Metal, but I make an exception for only two bands: Anvil Chorus and Hammers of Misfortune. I’m a biased in favor of this band and if you don’t like that, I apologize. But remember: I did fully disclose my bias so you were warned. If you’re still reading, here’s the review. Like previous Hammers of Misfortune albums, the songs on 17th Street are steadily becoming more Progressive and less Metal - though there is still plenty of heaviness on display. This is a direction that they’ve been going for ages and one of the hallmarks of their albums is that you really have to listen to them several times to get your head around where they’re going. There’s a lot of melody and though the songs are technical, the playing never detours into that “technical to the point of absurdity” zone that Dream Theater and Fates Warning call home. Lyrically, Hammers of Misfortune has always had something to say. While there isn’t a central story like on The Bastard , the songs on 17th Street revolve around the primary theme of life (or whatever passes for it) in the city. I guess living in San Fran-sicko is endless inspiration when it comes to how fucked up living in a major metropolitan area can be. While the lyrics are on the depressing side, the music is never boring. If you like Progressive Metal, I think you’ll enjoy this album.
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