Hammer Hands - Sex Organs
Record Label: None
Release Date: 2008
The post-punk scene has always blurred the lines between entertainment and A.D.D. antics. From the frantic screams to hurried 5/4 guitar lines, most of what is post-punk or post-hardcore catches us by surprise by its intensity and outrageous behavior.
Hammer Hands is another band to add to all those silly time guitar lines, Jenga-esque stacked phrases, and outrageous lyrical scribbles.
"Whore Espana" wants you to believe its a straight punk song at first, but dual call-and-response vocals continuously fight to a melodic halt mid-song, just to break into an array of mix rapid fire guitar and drums, all to end in a complete Rampage-like teardown of a conclusion. "Prohibition Bar Fight" cuts guitar lines back and forth like a knife against a plate, into a breakdown and more call-and-response, moving yet again into melodic instrumental territory ending in something short of near epic - but I'll chalk that up to lo-fi production. "Alaskan Thunderfuck" is a shining moment for the upstarts. Production isn't too clean across the entire EP, but the band creates a solid arrangement that's reminiscent of early post-hardcore recordings: basement show reality.
Hammer Hands isn't going to stand out just yet. But with some better production, and a little practice, the band can move two ways: they can either fall into some of the more entertaining "back on the shelf in a week" post-hardcore, or progressively catchier A.D.D. antics that make me truly love this genre.
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