Gallhammer
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2003 in Tokyo, Japan |
| Headquarters | Tokyo , Japan |
| Products | Studio albums, demos, EPs, video releases |
Gallhammer () was a Japanese extreme metal band known for combining elements of black metal, doom metal, and crust punk. Established in Tokyo in 2003, they produced three studio albums over their career.
The band's final roster consisted of Vivian Slaughter (vocals, bass) and Risa Reaper (vocals, drums), with founding member Mika Penetrator originally contributing vocals and guitar.
Biography
Gallhammer's initial release was a highly limited demo tape of just 30 copies, handed out during their first live appearance at Koiwa Death Fest Vol.2 in March 2003. That July saw the launch of a self-titled demo, followed by the Endless Nauseous Days demo in April 2004. Their first full-length record, Gloomy Lights, containing eight tracks, was issued in November 2004 via Hello From The Gutter Records.
In January 2006, Gallhammer joined Peaceville Records after receiving a recommendation from Darkthrone. They then released The Dawn of...: a CD/DVD set featuring demos, rehearsal clips, and live footage from performances in Okayama and Tokyo.
Their sophomore album, Ill Innocence, was released through Peaceville in September 2007. This was supported by a European tour that extended into March 2008. Additionally, they played at the Inferno Metal Festival in June of that year.
By the time of their third album, The End (2011), guitarist Mika Penetrator had left the band; Gallhammer continued as a duo with bass and drums.[1] This personnel change brought a notable transformation in their sound—from the earlier thrashy punk-metal style to slower, sludge-influenced death marches inspired by bands such as Flipper and the Melvins.[1]
Gallhammer also appeared in Nocturno Culto's film The Misanthrope: The Existence of Solitude and Chaos.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Influences
Vivian Slaughter has identified Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, Amebix, and Burzum as key influences shaping Gallhammer’s music. She is also an admirer of Judas Priest and regards Corrupted as "the greatest band in the world." Her initial motivation to pursue music stemmed from witnessing live shows by Napalm Death and Painkiller.
Risa Reaper prefers vintage techno, krautrock, Kraftwerk, and Laibach. The band's inspirations further include Joy Division, Antisect, Carcass, Cathedral, Morbid Angel, and Scorn. Drawing on Japanoise influences, Gallhammer has collaborated with artists like Incapacitants.
Despite incorporating crust and anarcho-punk elements into their sound, Gallhammer does not associate themselves with any particular political ideology.
Members
- Current
- Vivian Slaughter – bass guitar, lead vocals
- Lisa Reaper – drums, backing vocals
- Former
- Mika Penetrator – guitar, backing vocals (2003–2010)
Discography
- Studio albums
- Gloomy Lights (2003)
- Ill Innocence (2007)
- The End (2011)
- Other releases
- The First Reh-Tape (demo) (2003)
- Gallhammer (demo) (2003)
- Endless Nauseous Days (demo) (2004)
- Beyond The Hatred (EP) (2007)
- The Dawn of... (compilation) (2007)
- A Taste of Despair (EP) (2010)
- Video releases
- The Dawn of... (2007)
- Ruin of a Church (2008)
External links
- Pages with reference errors
- Articles with short description
- Japanese black metal bands
- Japanese doom metal bands
- Japanese crust and d-beat music groups
- Musical acts formed in 2003
- 2003 establishments in Japan
- Musical acts disbanded in 2013
- 2013 disestablishments in Japan
- All-female punk groups
- Tokyo-based musical groups
- Artists signed to Peaceville Records
- All-female metal groups
- Japanese all-female ensembles
- Musical groups disestablished in 2013