Demolition Hammer on DeBaser: brutal thrash, demos and violence

Demolition Hammer

Musical Group

Forold-school thrash fans, death-thrash seekers, demo collectors, riff/drum obsessives.
6 Reviews 4 Definitions 2 Charts

The Profile

American thrash metal band from New York, formed in 1986 (as Overlord). After two demos (1988–1989) they released Tortured Existence (1990), Epidemic of Violence (1992), and Time Bomb (1994), earning a cult reputation for an extremely violent, death-tinged sound. The band later reformed.

Early core lineup: Steve Reynolds (vocals/bass), James Reilly (guitars), Derek Sykes (guitars), Vinny Daze/Vincent Civitano (drums). Associated with Century Media. Part of the New York thrash scene.

Six DeBaser reviews frame Demolition Hammer as ultra-violent, death-tinged thrash from New York. Early demos show the shift toward brutality; Tortured Existence sets the template. Epidemic of Violence is praised for sharper production, relentless drums, and dense riffing. Lineup details and lyrical themes (horror, death, detachment) recur throughout. Recommended to dedicated thrashers.

Notable Quotes

❝ "Tortured Existence" is destructive, it is one of the most brutal Thrash Metal albums, comparable to a steamroller: Death Metal-like rhythms, heavy and substantial riffs, very fitting vocals, because they are damn dirty, almost a growl.

❝ Recommended with all my (still bleeding) heart to all thrashers.

❝ As for the aforementioned modifications, they mainly concern the direction that the quartet has now settled on: brutal and violent thrash metal, with clear leanings towards death metal