– Hello, lots of thanks for answering our interview. How is everything going into the BLOODY HAMMERS’ camp right now?

It’s really good! We live on top of a mountain in Transylvania County, NC. Currently the leaves are starting to change colors, and there is a feeling of fall in the air. This means Halloween is coming, our time of year!

– First off, you are a band that is strongly inspired by classical horror, both in lyric-terms as also when it comes to the whole atmosphere on your albums so, first off, what have been some of the most influential pieces for you? Both movies, books, authors or bands.

This is a long list but it all goes back to my youth. One day I was going through my mom’s 45 records and I found “Go to Hell” by Alice Cooper. She bought it for the other side which was the ballad “I Never Cry” but “Go to Hell” really resonated with me. I played it over and over. I was probably only 6 or 7 years old. As far as movies, “An American Werewolf in London” was hugely influential to me as a kid. It was brilliant in so many ways. It was terrifying, dreamy but still had a great sense of humor.

 

– On your music you blend elements from different styles, such as Classic Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Doom Metal, After Punk, etc. So, how could you describe your sound to someone that hasn’t listened the band yet?

Fuzzy southern gothic. We’re the band that would be playing at a haunted campfire stoner orgy massacre.

 

– Next October you will be releasing your sophomore album. After the awesome feedback your debut album got, how was the creation of this new record?

Very similar to the debut. I just lock myself away for days in the basement. I’ll play riffs and sing melodies into the voice recorded on my phone until I come across something worth fleshing out. The vocal melody is most important to me first. I don’t need lyrics until very last. I just mumble nonsense up to that point.

 

– And how has its feedback been so far? As, though the album isn’t out yet, is has already hit the press.

Yes you and few people have it. From the review you wrote, it looks like you liked it. If you didn’t like it, we were just going to stop.

 

– Getting deeper into this new opus, I found its title, «Spiritual Relics», to fit quite good with the band and with this album’s sound but, what did you want to depict on it?

Sometimes I don’t know where these things come from; the words just pop in my head and I go with them. I think at the time I was thinking how a few of the songs like “Shiver” and “The Source” were older songs that had been around a while and almost “relics” to me.

 

– After giving this LP some spins I could say it has more heavy fuzz, which makes it sound more traditional. Was this how you envisioned the album since the beginning?

This album was recorded when Devallia and I were both really struggling to get out of a frustrating situation. It was bringing me down so maybe it sounds a little

more angry and unstable at times. Vocally, I was a little more aggressive here but it was just my mood at the time.

 

– In fact the production really enhances this, as it’s quite crispy, thick and organic. How was this time around the production process? Are you satisfied with the final outcome?

I learned much more about recording after the first album, especially drums. The drums on “Spiritual Relics” sound much better than the first album in my opinion. My only regret is that the guitar tone wasn’t quite as fuzzy as the first but we’ll fix that on the next album. I’m really happy with the songs though. Even though I was in a bad place personally, those times are usually when the best songs come to you.

 

– I think all the aforementioned has helped getting a darker sound, a more powerful atmosphere. In fact atmosphere seems to be a really important part of your music but, how important is it?

Dynamics are very important to me. I like a good dark atmosphere… it doesn’t have to be heavy to be dark. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds have done some of the darkest songs I have ever heard with no heavy guitars or growling.

 

– On this album there are less gothic elements (but the goth atmosphere is still there), there are less BAUHAUS-like nuances so to speak, and less keyboards. What was the main reason behind this?

Maybe just as I was saying before, I was frustrated in my personal life and that spilled over to the making of this album. I wanted to be a little more aggressive, loud and bombastic. I’m in a much better place now.

 

– This being said, «Spiritual Relics» is a quite guitar-driven album, in fact I believe you have given the communion between heavy guitars and bass a bigger role, and both instruments (specially bass) have brought an intense groove to the album. Anyway, what could you say are the main differences between «Spiritual Relics» and your previous «Bloody Hammers»?

Each song on the first album was a little horror story. Songs like “The Witching Hour” were straight forward campfire style stories. On the new album maybe the lyrics are a little more of a stream of consciousness, more metaphors. The stories are still there but maybe a little bit deeper.

 

– That thickness contrasts with bleak goth-like vocals. Are contrasts an important part of your music?

It’s just something that happens naturally and I guess, just a part of my style. I don’t think about it too much really. I just do what comes to me naturally.

 

– Anyway, your musical basis is still the same so, could you say you’re still perfecting and searching your own sound?

I think this is it really. I don’t see it changing too much. My songwriting style has been the same for many years even way back when I was doing darkwave. I just do what I like and I know it might sound cliché, but if other people like it, even better.

 

– As you did on your debut, you’ve closed the album with a ballad, «Science Fiction». Was this something planned or just coincidence?

It just seemed to fit. Maybe some people will think otherwise, but I like it. I’m a risk taker and like to go with what I feel. You can go mad trying to please everyone so it’s best to be true to yourself and go with whatever makes you happy as an artist first.

 

– And finally, what are your near-future plans?

Right now we are gearing up to play the Housecore Horror Festival in Austin, TX this Halloween. We were invited by Corey Mitchell and Phil Anselmo to play so we’re psyched about that. There are so many good bands on that card!

 

Tania Giménez

tania@queensofsteel.com

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