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artist: Witches Hammer
title: Final Storm
year: 2026
genre: Thrash Metal
type: Album
label: Nuclear War Now! Productions
language: English
rel. date: 2026-07-17
source: WEB/MP3
quality: CBR 320kbps / 44.1 kHz / Joint Stereo
runtime: 00:38:19
size: 87.8 MiB / 9 tracks
rip date: 2026-08-30
source url: https://open.qobuz.com/album/gjq1rq3tzatw5
tracklist:
01. Into the Gates of Hell 5:39
02. We Are Legion 3:21
03. Nocturnal Oblivion 2:56
04. Mantle of Death 3:48
05. Across the River Styx 1:36
06. Malicious Assault 3:16
07. Death of No Reprieve 4:34
08. From Below 4:37
09. Twisting in Torment 8:31
release notes:
Forty years in the making, Final Storm serves as the triumphant final
chapter in Canadian Speed Metal cult, Witches Hammer's history. Rather
than reinventing themselves, the band has remained faithful to the speed
and thrash metal sound that has defined their legacy, delivering nine
tracks that seamlessly stand alongside their previous two acclaimed
albums. The record bridges past and present, combining material from the
band's earliest days with newly forged compositions to create a fitting
Final Storm.
Two songs on the album trace their origins directly to Witches Hammer's
legendary demo era: "Mantle of Death" from the band's 1985 debut demo and
"Death of No Reprieve" from their 1986 follow-up. Alongside these
resurrected classics are two completely new tracks, "Nocturnal Oblivion"
and the instrumental "Malicious Assault." The remaining songs are built
from a treasure trove of unreleased riffs, rehearsal tapes, and basement
recordings created during the band's formative years in the 1980s. Much
of the material was painstakingly assembled from decades-old cassettes,
with the band collaborating to complete and refine unfinished ideas into
fully realized songs.
Lyrically, Final Storm continues Witches Hammer's tradition of drawing
inspiration from a wide spectrum of dark subjects, ranging from
mythology, religion, and literature to film and real-world themes.
Musically, the album remains rooted in the classic metal records that
shaped the band, channeling the spirit of albums such as Seven Churches,
Hell Awaits, Sentence of Death, British Steel, Killers, and Bonded by
Blood.
The album's striking cover artwork carries a story of its own. Originally
drawn by Wes Gauley in 1988 for an album that was never released, the
piece remained unseen for nearly four decades before being carefully
restored by Beatrice Share. Intended to adorn what could have been
Witches Hammer's debut full-length, it now serves as the cover for their
final statement; a fitting and symbolic conclusion to a journey that
began in the underground metal scene of the 1980s. Final Storm is both a
celebration of the band's past and a powerful final testament to the
enduring spirit of the Canadian Speed Metal cult.