### Ringworm: Hammer of the witch

#### 16/03/14 || Ironpants

“Better to have ringworm, than tapeworm.”

Don’t you just feel like you want to fuck shit up sometimes? You know, you walk around at work/home and just have that “Hello, how are you today?”-look on your face, but inside you just feel the urge to let your inner demons free and just go berserk. Just rip off your shirt and go mental… hitting imaginary people in the face and kick chairs around, going “Yeah bitch, that’s what I’m talking about” (talking to the chair that just lies there wondering why one if its legs are broken, and what he had done to deserve that?). I have those moments once in a while, and when that happens, in my mind I look like Anderson Silva or any other UFC-dude at his best. In reality though, I most probably look like a middle-aged, slightly overweight man trying to fight off a fly, and also breaking an ankle when kicking that chair…

How convenient that I got hold of the new album by Ringworm before I ended the life for one of my hard earned home decor accessories. This Cleveland outfit performs that perfect letting-off-steam music that I was desperately searching for at just that moment. They have been around for ages, and to perfectly honest with you, I have absolutely zero history with these guys. I have off course known about their existence, and listened to them a few times in the past, but they have never really reeled me in with their metal influenced hardcore, or hardcore influenced thrash? You can call it whatever you want, but it’s a fact that Ringworm aren’t really known for their love ballads, no, they give everything in every song and there is always a riff to explore.

The album opens up with “Dawn of decay”, and when some doomy cellos is playing that intro that turns into a thrashy riff and further on into a full force crossover thrash song with James Bulloch spewing out the lyrics, I knew that I was hooked. The vocals are really raw on this album, and my mind is constantly drawn towards different grindcore acts. A good vocalist sings from his stomach, but Bulloch sings from way down in his lower intestines. I love this voice… you don’t want to be on the receiving end off his anger-filled monologues.

Almost every song on the album are real ass-kickers, and I dare you to listen to the album while implying a relaxed posture. The title track ‘Hammer of the witch’ , and “I recommend amputation” together with “Leave your skin at the door” gives energy to your inner fire when you are in that kind of mode that I talk about in the intro-text.

The production is what you could expect from this genre, and I have to commend them for really lifting up the bass in the mix, and together with the raw mixing of Bulloch’s voice, they prove to be the driving force on this record. All in all it is a well balanced production and everything is placed where it should be.

There are most certainly dudes out there reading this review just now, and have their minds set totally clear on their own opinions regarding Ringworm, but for me this was a pleasant surprise, and I guess it was one of those meetings “destined to happen”? I listened to this in exactly the perfect moment, I needed something that helped me release some pressure just seconds before having an aneurysm. And I thank them for that. Do you like gung-ho music with an in-your-face attitude? Do you have anger management issues? Or are you just looking for some action filled riff music that isn’t bullshitting you into remaining calm and sit back with an empty stare? Well, look no further, get a hold of Ringworm’s latest release and rip off your face and go mental.

- Information
- Released: 2014
- Label: Relapse Records
- Website: www.ringworm13.com
- Band
- James Bulloch: vocals
- John Comprix: guitars
- Matt Sorg: guitars
- Ed Stephens: bass
- Danny Zink: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Dawn of decay
- 02. Bleed
- 03. Leave your skin at the door
- 04. Exit life
- 05. Psychic vampire
- 06. King of blood
- 07. I recommend amputation
- 08. Hammer of the witch
- 09. We’ll always have the end
- 10. One of us is going to have to die
- 11. Vicious circle of life
- 12. Die like a pig
- 13. Height of revelation