Ok, I'm not exactly a huge metal fan by any means, but I have to give this record and band props. The "Hammers of Misfortune":http://www.hammersofmisfortune.com/ are with out a doubt one of the most genuinely creative and ripping metal bands out there today. I got turned on to this band when a friend (Ian Gradek, bassist for Howlin' Rain) commissioned me to build him an electic guitar. He wanted an axe inlayed on the fretboard, and this band and record is the reason why. He gave me a copy of this cd (The Bastard) as an explination, and a source of inspiration. Well, it worked. This is one of the most creatively written metal abums i have listened to in a long time. It listens like an opera with acts, and parts, each song blending seamlessly into the other. It is self produced by the band and guitar player John Cobbett, who also plays in another great metal band from SF/Oakland called "Ludicra":http://www.ludicra.org/. I have listened to this record over and over, and refuse to tire of it. The vocal and bass playing talents of Janis Tanaka are also a prominent feature on The Bastard. You may remember her from L7, or the as current bass player for Pink. Come to think of it the drumming, and guitar playing also kick much ass. I guess part of what i like about this album is that it is solid through and through, each player contributing to to the whole in and equal, and incredible way. Like any classic, a story is told, and what a story it is (enchanted axe posseses the soul of bastard son of a tyrant king, who kills said king, takes the throne where axe spirit takes over and kills all the worthless humans as revenge for the forest creatures, in a nutshell). Great tale, and fun to decifer. One last observation on this one is the artwork is superb, making The Hammers of Misfortune's The Bastard a metal album to last the ages. If you like metal, get this one.