Hammers of Misfortune

Hammers of Misfortune formed in 1993 around guitarist and vocalist John Cobbett. Their debut album 'The Bastard' came out in 1997, and they've kept working since then with a shifting lineup that has included people like Sigrid Sheie on vocals and Mike Scalzi on guitar. They've put out records like 'The August Engine' in 2006 and 'Dawn of a New Century' in 2012.

Their songs tend to mix heavy riffs with more melodic or atmospheric touches. You can hear that in tracks like 'Doomed Parade,' 'Widow's Wall,' and 'Famine's Lamp.' They've sometimes brought in elements from folk or progressive metal, but the core is still rooted in that doom and traditional heavy metal sound they started with.

Cobbett has been the consistent figure through the band's changes, and his lyrics often lean toward darker, introspective themes. The music doesn't shy away from being complex or layered, but it usually avoids pure aggression in favor of something more textured and deliberate.