Gallhammer

Gallhammer is a Japanese extreme metal group that draws on black metal, doom metal, and crust punk. They formed in Tokyo in 2003. All of the members are female, which is rare in their genre.

Biography
Gallhammer was formed in Tokyo, Japan in 2003. The original idea of the band was formed in 2002, following bassist/vocalist Vivian Slaughter's desire to create a band that based itself around the dark and morbid musical atmospheres of the seminal Swiss black metal band, Hellhammer. Slaughter's previous band was Vivian Christ, a digital hardcore group in which she played saxophones, programmed drums, and sang. The other members, Risa Reaper (drums/vocals) and Mika Penetrator (guitar/vocals), joined in 2003. When the band started out, none of the members had even learned how to play their instruments, as they had all previously been vocalists.

Their first recording, in the form of a free demo tape that was limited to 30 copies, was distributed at their first gig at Koiwa Death Fest Vol.2, around March 2003, in Japan. In July of the same year, the self-titled demo album was released. By April of the following year, they had released another demo album, entitled Endless Nauseous Days, and were working towards their debut full-length CD. The 8-track album, entitled Gloomy Lights, was released on November 11th 2004 through Hello From The Gutter Records.

In January 2006, Gallhammer was signed to Peaceville Records, and a CD/DVD pack, entitled The Dawn Of..., was released, containing a CD, demo & rehearsal footage, and a DVD recording of Gallhammer performing in Okayama and 5 concerts in Tokyo.

Gallhammer released their second full-length album, Ill Innocence, through Peaceville Records on 24 September 2007, followed by a European tour. As of March 2008, they did a second European tour. They also played at the Inferno Metal Festival in June.

Influences
In an interview with Contraband Candy, Vivian Slaughter cited Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, Amebix and Burzum as Gallhammer's main musical influences. Slaughter is also a passionate fan of Judas Priest. While the group borrows from crust and anarcho-punk, they do not identify with a particular political outlook. Risa Reaper is a fan of old school techno, Kraftwerk, Krautrock, and Laibach. The group is also inspired by Japanoise and have collaborated with Incapacitants.

Band members

 * Vivian Slaughter: - Vocals/bass
 * Mika Penetrator: - Vocals/guitar
 * Risa Reaper: - Drums/vocals

Studio albums

 * 2004 - Gloomy Lights
 * 2007 - Ill Innocence

Live & other albums

 * 2003 - (Untitled) (demo tape, limited to 30 copies)
 * 2003 - Gallhammer (demo mini-album)
 * 2004 - Endless Nauseous Days (demo mini-album)

DVDs

 * 2007 - The Dawn of... CD + DVD
 * 2008 - Ruin of a Church