#hellhammer 1983

REAPING SOULS AT THE DAWN OF THE EXTREME.

PIC INFO: Spotlight on Thomas Gabriel Fischer, a.k.a., "Satanic Slaughter," guitarist/vocalist/songwriter/ founder of foundational, crucial, pivotal Swiss extreme metal band, HELLHAMMER, captured in their now infamous rehearsal bunker in Birchwil, Switzerland, c. spring 1983.

THOUGH NOT TECHNICALLY "THRASH METAL," A BAND NONETHELESS SPAWNED BY THE EARLY '80s THRASH SCENE.

PIC INFO: Spotlight on a photo featuring founding members Steve Warrior and Tom Gabriel Warrior of the influential Swiss extreme metal band HELLHAMMER, captured in their rehearsal bunker in Birchwil, Switzerland, c. spring 1983.

EXTRA INFO: The handwritten song list visible in the background includes early tracks like "Blood Insanity," "Ready for Slaughter," "Sweet Torment," and "Bloody Pussies."

SLAUGHTERING HIS WAY THROUGH THE METAL UNDERGROUND IN SUPREME EIGHTIES STYLE.

PIC #2: A rare shot of Thomas Gabriel Fischer, a.k.a., "Satanic Slaughter," guitarist/vocalist/ songwriter/founder of crucial, pivotal Swiss extreme metal band, HELLHAMMER, photographed in their now infamous rehearsal bunker in Birchwil, Switzerland, c. spring 1983.

SATANIC SLAUGHTER -- SAVAGE DAMAGE -- BLOODHUNTER -- THREE DEATH FIENDS.

PIC(S) INFO: Spotlight on Swiss first wave black metal/death/thrash/extreme metal band HELLHAMMER, photographed on New Year's Day, 1983. All portraits are from the band's first proper photo shoot, and were conducted by Andreas Schwarber in the village of Birchwil, Switzerland.

Tom Gabriel Warrior ("Satanic Slaughter"), guitar holocaust & dambuster vocals;

Steve Warrior ("Savage Damage"), infernal battlebass & overkill throat;

Bruce Day ("Bloodhunter"), sledgehammers on anvils;

TOM G. WARRIOR: "The group's approach was even then markedly unique and, perhaps surprisingly, much more professional than that pursued by most other contemporary local bands around us. This was closely tied to the unconditional fanaticism we felt for the music we loved so much: metal."