Hammer Smashed Face (song)

Last updated
"Hammer Smashed Face"
Song by Cannibal Corpse
from the album Tomb of the Mutilated
Released1992
Studio Morrisound Recording
Genre Death metal
Label Metal Blade Records
Composers Alex Webster, Paul Mazurkiewicz, Jack Owen
Lyricist Chris Barnes
Producer Scott Burns

"Hammer Smashed Face" is a song by American death metal band Cannibal Corpse, released in 1992 as the opening track on their third studio album Tomb of the Mutilated .

Contents

Many consider it to be the band's greatest song, as well as being among the greatest death metal songs of all time.

Composition and lyrics

According to Loudersound , "The song is notorious for its pummelling and rhythmic start, where Paul’s quick yet primal drumbeats give way to a brief, bass guitar-led interlude, all before a gigantic and climactic breakdown." [1]

The song's main riff has been called "hauntingly sinister." The song's breakdown has been called "clobbering" and "stomach churning." Revolver said the "lyrical specificity of a madman bashing a victim’s head to bits can still make even the most hardened headbanger squirm." [2] [3]

Drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz has commented that the lyrics to "Hammer Smashed Face" are "mild" compared to the rest of the tracks on Tomb of the Mutilated. [4]

Reception and legacy

"Hammer Smashed Face" is the band's most popular song, mainly due to a shortened version appearing in the 1994 comedy film Ace Ventura: Pet Detective . [5] Since it is included on Tomb of the Mutilated , it was banned from Germany until June 2006, when it was played at a 2006 performance at Essen.[ citation needed ]

When asked if he had a favorite Cannibal Corpse album, singer Chris Barnes described the Hammer Smashed EP as "one of the underrated ones". [6] Barnes also hailed the group's cover of Black Sabbath's "Zero the Hero" as "one of the greatest". [6]

In 2012, Loudwire wrote: "Easily one of the best death metal songs ever written, the track tends to often overshadow the mastery heard on the rest of the album." [7] In 2015, the same publication stated that it was the best Cannibal Corpse song. [8] In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked the song No. 93 on their list of the 100 greatest heavy metal songs. [9] Revolver called it "the perfect death metal song." [2] Graham Hartmann of Loudwire called the change to half-time in the song's middle section "one of the most stomach churning breakdowns ever recorded." [3]

References

  1. ↑ Millspublished, Matt (2023-09-06). "Horror, hate and, er, Jim Carrey: How Hammer Smashed Face made Cannibal Corpse the world's most famous death metal band". louder. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
  2. 1 2 Enis, Eli. "Fan poll: Top 5 CANNIBAL CORPSE songs". Revolver. Retrieved 2025-01-06.
  3. 1 2 Hartmann, Graham (2017-07-27). "10 Sickest Breakdowns of All Time". Loudwire. Retrieved 2025-03-25.
  4. ↑ Dick, Chris. Precious Metal: Decibel Presents the Stories Behind 25 Extreme Metal Masterpieces. Da Capo Press. p. 150.
  5. ↑ J. Purcell, Natalie (2003). Death Metal music: the passion and politics of a subculture. McFarland. p. 66. ISBN   0786415851.
  6. 1 2 Morgan, Anthony (June 2007). ""Ghosts of the Undead" – Six Feet Under vocalist Chris Barnes delivers ten bludgeons of his philosophical hatchet with seventh record Commandment". Lucem Fero. Archived from the original on 2008-04-14. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
  7. ↑ DiVita, Joe DiVitaJoe (2015-04-17). "Top 25 Extreme Metal Albums of All Time". Loudwire. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
  8. ↑ DiVita, Joe DiVitaJoe (2015-09-28). "10 Best Cannibal Corpse Songs". Loudwire. Retrieved 2026-02-06.
  9. ↑ "The 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone . 13 March 2023.
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