One of the great underground death metal bands of the mid-'80s,
Hellhammer never came close to reaching the pop mainstream. The brutally aggressive unit did attract a small but loyal cult following during its short life, and two of its three members -- lead singer
Tom Gabriel Warrior and bassist Martin Ain -- went on enjoy greater visibility with
Celtic Frost. Those who fancy
Slayer,
Testament or
Metallica at their heaviest will find much to treasure on Apocalyptic Raids 1990 AD, a 1990 compilation spotlighting
Hellhammer's 1984 work. Sledgehammer offerings like "Triumph of Death," "Revelations of Doom" and "Messiah" are quintessential death metal -- morbid, dark, pessimistic and unapologetically intense. ~ Alex Henderson