Tyrants Of Cruelty by Nuclearhammer: A Raw Blackened Thrash Through the Abyss
If you’re into music that feels like it was forged in the fiery pits of some frozen hellscape, then Tyrants Of Cruelty by Nuclearhammer is your jam. Released in 2006 via Serpents Head Reprisal (a label name that sounds as metal as it gets), this Canadian beast straddles the line between black metal and death metal with all the subtlety of a chainsaw to the face. And honestly? That’s exactly what makes it so damn good.
Let’s dive into a couple tracks because, yeah, there’s a lot here, but these two stuck with me for different reasons.
First up: “Ravenous Wolves Of Bestial Nights (Ride The Winds Of Sorcery).” Holy crap, where do I even start? This track hits like an icy storm ripping through your skull. The riffs are relentless—sharp, jagged, and dripping with malice. It’s one of those songs where you can almost feel the cold winds howling around you while wolves tear each other apart under a blood-red moon. Sounds over-the-top? Yeah, totally. But that’s why it works. There’s no holding back here; it’s pure chaos wrapped in grim poetry. Every time I hear it, I’m reminded why I fell in love with extreme metal in the first place.
Then there’s “Blasphemous Kommand.” Man, this one just slams. It’s got that old-school black metal vibe but with a nasty, thrashy edge that keeps things fresh. The vocals sound like they were recorded in the depths of a crypt, which is perfect because the lyrics are about as blasphemous as it gets. What really stands out is the drumming—it’s fast, precise, and absolutely punishing. Like, my neck hurts just thinking about it. If you’re not headbanging within the first ten seconds, check your pulse. You might be dead.
The rest of the album isn’t slacking either. Tracks like “Misanthropy Bloodwar” and “Hateful Annihilation Through The Gleaming Blade” deliver on the promises made by their gloriously over-the-top titles. Even the cover of Sarcófago’s “Ready To Fuck” fits right in, showing off the band’s ability to pay homage without losing their own identity.
One thing worth mentioning is how well the production holds up. Sure, it’s raw and unpolished, but that’s part of its charm. You don’t listen to something like Tyrants Of Cruelty expecting pristine studio magic—you want grit, dirt, and maybe a little rust. This album delivers all three in spades.
So yeah, if you’re looking for something that’ll rip your ears off and leave ‘em bleeding, give this one a spin. Just don’t say I didn’t warn ya when your neighbors start complaining about the noise.
Oh, and here’s a random thought to wrap things up: Listening to this album feels kinda like eating spicy food. At first, it burns like hell, but once you get used to it, you realize you can’t live without it. Weird analogy? Maybe. Accurate? Totally.
