THE AUGUST ENGINE

John Cobbett has earned quite a reputation in the underground metal scene for his creative and rather unique riffs. In Hammers of Misfortune, Cobbett infuses progressive rock with a more traditional metal sound. So far, I have listened to three of their albums, Dead Revolution, The Locust Years, and Dead Revolution. All three albums contain technically accomplished but catchy riffing and guitar playing throughout. This album incorporates more acoustic instruments than the others I have listened to. One thing I loved about this album, in addition to the guitar playing, is the gloomy and gothic sounding male and female vocals. Highlights of the album include the transition from the heavy but incredibly catchy riffs in The August Engine (Part 1) to the acoustic track Rainfall, the solos in The August Engine (Part 2), and the doomy The Trial and the Grave. This album is actually a concept album about "a conversation between a microcosm and a macrocosm". Apparently, the album was going to originally be much larger in scope, and although it's a fantastic album in its current form, I do hope they'll someday release it in full. As it is, I think it's a very solid album with a sound that is sort of unique to Hammers of Misfortune, and I like it about as much as The Locust Years, and more than Dead Revolution. If I could give it a 4.5, I would, but I'll round up.