Hidden Gems & Guilty Pleasures: Warhammer (Germany)
Warhammer (Black/Death/Thrash Metal // Germany)
Warhammer was a black/death/thrash metal band from North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Formed in 1994, Warhammer is widely recognized as an “extremely fanatical tribute” to the legendary Swiss extreme metal act Hellhammer. They are known for strictly adhering to the raw, black/death/thrash and proto-doom sound of the early 1980s. The band’s aim was to replicate the specific style and lo-fi production of Hellhammer as closely as possible, filling the gap left when that band evolved into Celtic Frost.
On the 4th anniversary of Volker “Iron Lung” Frerich’s death, »Total Maniac« has chimed from the abysses into the realms of reality to bring horror and damnation for one last time as a deafening echo of Iron Lung’s eerie dirge.
»Total Maniac« is a DIY project from its heart. With the earliest songs originally written over the course of years back to 2012 to 2020, when the first recordings were made.
All recordings were in the presence of the band’s vocalist and founding member Volker, who passed away 2 weeks after the last phrases were recorded, finishing the recording process.
The sound alters from the earlier Warhammer releases, by evolving from its heavy Hellhammer influences into its own distinctive sound but still remaining true to its origins.
Making a point with a cover of Crude SS and Vellocet on the bonus EP underlining not only sympathy, but further influence by what is rooted in the punk scene.
»Total Maniac« was mixed in 2022 also with a DIY mindset by the remaining Warhammer members and Frederik Aderholz and was handed to professional mastering by Obscured by Evil Productions.
Finally, 3 years later, »Total Maniac« was released on March 12th, 2025 via Ván Records!
Discography:
• »Towards The Chapter Of Chaos« Demo (1997)
• »The Winter Of Our Discontent« LP (Voices Productions, 1998)
• »Deathchrist« LP (Grind Syndicate Media, 1999)
• »The Doom Messiah« LP (Grind Syndicate Media, 2000)
• »Apocalypse Unleashed« Single (Black Goat Productions, 2001)
• »Curse Of The Absolute Eclipse« LP (Nuclear Blast Records, 2002)
• »Towards The Chapter Of Chaos« Compilation (Nuclear Blast Records, 2003)
• »No Beast So Fierce…« LP (High Roller Records, 2009)
• »Death By Metal« Split (Break The Chains, 2010)
• »Apokalyptic War« Split (Hell Music, 2012)
• »Strike Of The Infernal Adversary…« Split (High Roller Records, 2013)
• »Total Maniac« LP (Ván Records, 2025)
FFO: Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, early Sodom, Venom, Bathory, Darkthrone, Apokalyptic Raids, Gallhammer, Bulldozer, Usurper
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well