If you were (or are) a fan of noise rock, you were (or are or should be) a huge fan of Hammerhead. The Minneapolis-based trio formed back in the not-so-halcyon days of 1991 and unleashed a flurry of pummeling rock and post-punk heaviness upon the country for six years before disbanding. Though, like a bad penny, the band turned up once again, regrouping in 2010. Since then, they’ve been expanding and compounding on their throttling experimental sound, and last month Hammerhead released, New Directionz, their first full-length album in almost 20 years.
New Directionz is one of those rare gems of a return album for a reunited band. It both revels in the same rumbling, punishing bass lines and searing, dissonant guitars of the group’s early days, and progresses the sound in new and interesting ways. There’s definitely more nuanced post-punk atmospheres throughout, a darker edge to the fuzzed-out noise, yet there’s still that old familiar thundering rhythm to bang your head along to.
Hammerhead continue to be unapologetic and awesome, and with the new record they are taking the show on the road for a massive tour with another immense figure in noise rock, Qui. The Los Angeles duo of Matt Cronk and Paul Christensen have themselves had a bit of an on-again-off-again tenure, though it looks like their as strong as ever these days. Much more angular, vocally-melodic and playful, Qui nonetheless possess a raw and exciting sound and provide a perfect alternative pairing to Hammerhead.
Next Saturday, Oct 10, Hammerhead and Qui both invade Railroad Square in Santa Rosa to play the Arlene Francis Center. Also joining them on the bill is Hot Victory, an experimental drum duo out of Portland that put on amazing, space-oddity shows and features former Santa Rosa rock star Caitlin Love (Desert City Soundtrack / the Lead Veins). Kicking off the night is Eat My Shit, the electronic solo project from PRIZEHOG’s Vern Acular.
You can get more details of the show here and preview Hammerhead’s new album below.
.Hammerhead Swims into Santa Rosa Next Week
