Review: Be The Hammer & John 3:16 - 'Swarm' (Industrial Complexx)

You know those horror films you watch through trembling fingers; you know what is coming and it's not gonna be nice but you just cannot not watch...you know, the good horror films that play with your nerves like a puppeteer and his marionette? Well 'Swarm' is the aural equivalent of that. To prevent any ambiguation in that last statement, I mean that in a very good way.

Be the Hammer [B_Γ_H] is a Belgium-based collaborative project revolving around its sole constant member, Raoul Puke whilst JOHN 3:16 is the guise of Philippe Gerber, formerly one third of the London-based trio Heat From A DeadStar. I admit to having no former knowledge of Be The Hammer but JOHN 3:16 is one of those artists I 'keep an eye on' following a superb 'twofer' tape released by Cruel Nature back in 2019. Between them they have produced a claustrophic, Uranium heavy album that positively oozes terror and suspense; indeed, the bandcamp page states itself that the album is "the score to a horror film that doesn't exist."

Musically it is rooted in deep, dark drones that seep into every synapse and it's this that imbues the album with its claustrophobia. The addition of threatening, demonic spoken word passages just adds to this feeling of falling into an abyss of nightmares and terror. There are times when it breaks out into Skinny Puppy-esque industrial beats but it artfully avoids becoming a straight up industrial album, and there times when the skewed electronica of Severed Heads are brought to mind. These elements merge with cinematic washes of synths to keep this engaging and deeply immersive. OK, it's not an album you would play when Great Aunt Mildred pops in for a cuppa but in the dark with headphones on it is the nearest one can get to being in the company of the damned.

'Swarm' was actually released on tape back in June on the Industrial Complexx label and it would seem there are still some tapes left. The tape and digital can be found on the Industrial Complexx Bandcamp page. Go get it!



Links:

Industrial Complexx Bandcamp Page

Industrial Complexx Facebook Page

JOHN 3:16 Facebook Page

Be The Hammer Facebook Page