The Bastard
Woodcut: a male figure with a crown of light emerges from a tree, seemingly transforming from tree to human form, to grab a double-headed axe held by a winged dragon who is descending from the top of the frame and is facing him. The text "Hammers of Misfortune" is displayed above the scene. A banner with the text "The Bastard" is displayed in the lower left corner of the scene.
Studio album by
Hammers of Misfortune
Released2001 (2001)
RecordedJuly 1999 – February 2000 in San Francisco, California
GenreHeavy metal, progressive metal
Length46:10
LabelTumult Records[1]
ProducerJohn Cobbett
Hammers of Misfortune chronology
The Bastard
(2001)		 The August Engine
(2003)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]

The Bastard is the first album by the American progressive/heavy metal band Hammers of Misfortune, released in 2001.[3]

Critical reception

AllMusic wrote: "Nothing less than a three-act heavy metal opera with role-playing vocals sung by the band members, the album draws on a whole range of metal influences—from Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden to Mercyful Fate and Opeth—and ties them together with some Celtic folk touches to create a sound that, while it does feel a little '80s nostalgic, is actually pretty original."[2] Loudwire thought that there's not "much of a musical precedent for the group’s fearless brand of blackened prog-metal, made all the more stunning and unique by distinct vocal styles for each character and even folk music ingredients."[4] SF Weekly declared that "Hammers of Misfortune's well-orchestrated melodicism, kaleidoscopic riffs, quirky time signatures, and striking vocals are grandiose and metalriffic—and that's no myth."[1]

Track listing

Act One
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."The Dragon Is Summoned"Erica Stoltz, John CobbettCobbett2:29
2."The Bastard Sapling"Mike ScalziCobbett2:23
3."On Wings of Vengeance"Stoltz, Scalzi, CobbettCobbett2:28
4."Hunting Tyrant"CobbettCobbett2:30
5."You Should Have Slain Me"Scalzi, CobbettCobbett3:26
Act Two
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
6."An Oath Sworn in Hell"CobbettCobbett, Scalzi6:40
7."The Blood Ax Speaks"Janis Tanaka, CobbettCobbett2:28
8."Tyrant Dies"CobbettCobbett3:42
9."The Witch's Dance"CobbettCobbett, Tanaka2:31
Act Three
No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
10."The Prophesy Has Two Meanings / Coronation"CobbettCobbett2:12
11."The New King's Lament"ScalziCobbett1:54
12."For the Ax"CobbettCobbett2:56
13."Troll's March"CobbettCobbett1:34
14."Sacrifice / The End"Cobbett, TanakaCobbett, Tanaka8:57

Personnel

Hammers of Misfortune
Production

Additional information

  • The band did not record The Bastard in a typical recording studio. The liner notes state: "this album was recorded on an 8-track analog machine in a rehearsal space in San Francisco between July 1999 and February 2000."

References

  1. 1 2 "SF Music Awards 2001". SF Weekly. October 17, 2001.
  2. 1 2 "The Bastard - Hammers of Misfortune | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  3. ↑ "Hammers of Misfortune | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  4. ↑ "10 Castle Metal Albums You Need to Hear". Loudwire.



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