Ever since the early days of SARCÓFAGO, VULCANO and SEPULTURA, South America has been a stronghold for the extreme Metal underground. The blend of extreme music initiated by bands like these has been refined ever since, not just by Brazilians. Colombia, too, has some great Black Thrash Metal bands to offer. Examples include the fantastic GUERRA TOTAL, and since the early 2020s also SATAN’S HAMMER. The four band members appear to be young, but very well-versed in what they do; they all cut their teeth playing Black, Death, and Thrash Metal in various other formations. “El Despertar De Satán” is very fast and well-produced; it does not sound too ‘underground-like’, especially regarding the Black Metal aspects. The sound is clear and the lyrics satanic, but comprehensible. SATAN’S HAMMER come across as a snottier, more Rock’n’Roll version of DESASTER (check out ‘La Muerte Acecha’!), with all songs except for ‘Satan’s Hammer’ being sung in Spanish. The versatility and quality of the songs can be recognized best by listening to ‘Fuerzas Del Mal’, which is not just Black Thrash but also contains melodic instrumental passages, and the appropriately named ‘Melodia Infernal’ which has a very thrashy, shredded intro. Another very fast song is ‘Comandos Malditos’, a cover song originally written by fellow Colombian thrashers EX-MORTIS (whose guitarist is also in SATAN’S HAMMER). The album concludes with the epic instrumental ‘La Encarnación del Caos (El Ascenso)’, which sounds a bit like BATHORY meeting South American folklore with some monster growls thrown in. After the EP “Mórbido” (released in 2020), “El Despertar De Satán” is the band’s first full-length record. Bien hecho, companeros – let’s hope to hear more such great neckbreakers from you in the future! More information you will find at: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063554617903, www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563068500501