Lucifer’s Hammer – ‘The Trip’

(High Roller Records)

Have you ever wondered what Iron Maiden would sound like if they originated from Chile? Yes, of course you have! Well wonder no more as Lucifer’s Hammer can take you to that alternate universe with ‘The Trip’ showcasing how it would have sounded.

I could nit pick and be quite critical about this album, but taking it for what it is rather than looking at its imperfections I feel may better, because regardless of its flaws I just can’t help enjoying ‘The Trip’.

As I’ve already stated Lucifer’s Hammer perform and create songs in an old school NWOBHM vein and Maiden are easily the most obvious band they sound like. They emulate the bands songs in their song writing extremely clearly. To me it’s obvious they all studied hard at the school of Harris, Smith, Dickinson and Co. From the strutting guitar riffs to the air raid style vocals, it’s all here – Id be shocked if their’s not at least one Maiden tattoo amongst the band members even it’s just Eddie!

To be fair ‘The Trip’ is pretty decent, like I’ve already said for what it is it’s enjoyable, if you like Maiden or NWOBHM I can’t see you not digging this as well. The curiously monikered band members Hades, Hypnos, Tyr and Titan are all clearly very talented musicians and that helps sell these songs to me. I do feel the old school NWOBHM style production lets them down in this day and age. That said, apparently this their third album benefited from a bigger recording budget which allowed for a better recording studio. So, I dread to think of the quality of their previous output. Although the production does make you feel this album was recorded in 1983 and that could have been the bands aim from the get go.

Lucifer’s Hammer are not going to win any awards for originality they are not creating anything new and they are perhaps a little too predictable. But their old school homage to NWOBHM is undeniably heartfelt and their love for the genre is clear and impossible to criticise and I think that will help them win fans amongst the metal community.

‘The Trip’ is well worth a looksee for Old School Metal fans, personally the fact that Lucifer’s Hammer are very melodic makes them really appeal to my tastes so I’m sure that will be the same for others with similar tastes!

6/10

Essential Track - 'Land Of Fire'

Review by Woody