I hadn’t listened to Hammers of Misfortune in years. Initially I got them mixed up with Hammerfall because I’m bad at remembering things from time to time. And I wasn’t fully into their super proggy sound at the time. But they’ve got a new album out, Dead Revolution, and the title track is fantastic. Hell, there’s a not insignificant amount of cowbell. Dare I say, it’s featured in a break.

The album’s intro track, the Velvet Inquisition, features some hot organ action. I guess it’s keyboard, but it sounds like Deep Purple-era organ work, a great throwback on top of an already chuggy and frenetic track.

After listening to it again I realize why I like it. The combo of the organ and the guitars give it a metal Castlevania vibe. I think the band was called Dracula X or Perfect Battle or something. Big and bombastic and operatic and awesome. And cowbell!