Formerly known as HAMMERHEAD, this bizarre and primitive extreme Nürensdorf - Zürich Metal outfit, which would in time evolve into the equally revered CELTIC FROST, was founded in 1982. The influence of the band would reverberate over decades throughout the Thrash and Black Metal genres. Previous to HAMMERHEAD frontman Thomas Gabriel Fischer and bassist Steve had been involved with various fledgling acts emulating their NWoBHM heroes VENOM.

HELLHAMMER's origins lay in the formative unit HAMMERHEAD. Initially bass guitar was handled by the 14 year old Michael Baum, who in turn transferred these duties to Fischer, then wishing to be known as 'Satanic Slaughter'. Of note is that Baum then journeyed on to Los Angeles to found AOR act SIERRA before enrolling into TRIBE OF GYPSIES.

Their debut 1982 rehearsal demo, saw the group apparently inspired by Newcastle upon Tyne NWoBHM band RAVEN and their Gallagher brothers team as Fischer, bassist Steve Patton, previously known as 'Savage Damage' and drummer Peter Stratton all adopting the joint stage surnames of 'Warrior'. During August 1982, HELLHAMMER shifted shape again, drafting drummer Jörg Neubart (a.k.a. 'Bloodhunter') and transferring from bass to guitar. Neubart subsequently became 'Bruce Day'.

In 1983 HELLHAMMER enrolled drummer Stephen Priestly from SCHIZO. Hellhammer followed up with their first studio demo, the July 1983 nine track 'Death Fiend'. Only a very limited distribution of this cassette, via Prowlin' Death Promotions, saw the light of day. This first official set witnessed a band still very much in its embryonic stages, chock full of copycat NWoBHM riffs and pre-pubescent lyrics such as opening line "She's got my joystick right in her mouth" from the song 'Bloody Pussies'. The band had actually committed a total of 17 tracks to tape, surfacing first on 'Death Fiend', then on the infamous 'Triumph Of Death'.

Clad in exactly the same artwork as its predecessor, once 'Triumph Of Death' made it outside of the tape trading underground and into the mainstream it provoked extreme opinions. Horrifically recorded, 'Triumph Of Death' offered an ugly wall of sound, choking doom riffs matched in intensity by stampeding bass and tortured vocals. HELLHAMMER's image, lifted straight from fantasy board games, had the trio complementing the music decked out in bullet belts, leather and spikes. Ambitiously the legend adorning the cassette issued the challenge 'VENOM are killing music... HELLHAMMER are killing VENOM'.

Whilst leading French magazine 'Enfer' hailed it as a classic, the UK's 'Metal Forces' magazine editor Bernard Doe cited it as the most appalling thing he had ever heard. History however would dictate that HELLHAMMER would later be recognized as one of the root catalysts of the Black Metal genre. Although in later years band members have admitted their knowledge of music was basic to say the least when the HELLHAMMER recordings were made, nevertheless the band were in possession of an artistic vision which would undoubtedly shape the metal scene over many years.

The group pulled in bass player Martin Eric Ain ('Slayed Necros') to lay down more demos, 'Satanic Rites', that December in Sound Concept studios. However, invited to submit a fresh demo to Berlin's Noise Records HELLHAMMER very nearly split as Ain felt he did not have the necessary talent to go through with the session.

Still, positive or negative press encouraged Noise to sign the band and the Berlin based label released the Horst Müller engineered 'Apocalyptic Raids' EP in March 1984, which had no details as to what RPM the record should be played at; sounding just as strange at 33RPM as it did at 45. An unconfident label only ordered up a first pressing of 1200 copies, which soon flew out of stores. This inaugural press was the only official one to include a lyric sheet. Subsequent quick fire re-presses resulted in a variation of colours and tones on the sleeve artwork, making for unintentional greater collectability.

Metal Blade Records released the EP in America with an extra two tracks. Demand for HELLHAMMER also warranted a bootleg 7" single issued by Necromantic union, a pairing of a live cut of 'Buried And Forgotten' and a rehearsal recording 'Messiah'.

HELLHAMMER mainman 'Satanic Slaughter' later swapped identities to become Tom G. Warrior and started the avant garde Metal legends CELTIC FROST in May of 1984 retaining the deal with Noise. CELTIC FROST issued a stream of critically praised outings before fizzling out.

Still an influence in some circles over ten years later, Sweden's ABYSS covered the HELLHAMMER track 'Massacra' on their 1995 album 'The Other Side'. Leading American Death Metal unit INCANTATION would wear their influences with pride too committing a cover of 'The Third Of Storms' to their inaugural demo session. Arch Black Metal protagonists DARKTHRONE would commit 'The Usurper' to an early demo which would later find the light of day on the 'Live In Frostland' bootleg. Fellow Swiss Metal act SAMAEL too would cover HELLHAMMER on their early demos with 'The Third Of The Storm'.

Warrior forged a new project in the late 90's billed as APOLLYON SUN. By late 2001 a full blown CELTIC FROST reunion had been announced but would prove protracted. In 2004 the band would have their classic cut 'The Third Of Storms' chosen as a pioneering piece of music for a compilation assembled by DARKTHRONE drummer Fenriz, released through Peaceville Records and entitled 'Fenriz Presents The Best Of Old School Black Metal'.