BURNING HAMMER, the new death/thrash project led by former HAVOK and MACHINE HEAD guitarist Reece Scruggs, have signed with Nefarious Industries and unleashed their debut single, “Rabid Lycanthropy.”
Scruggs handles guitars and lead vocals in the newly formed trio alongside bassist Noah Martin (ARSIS, WOLVEN SPIRIT, ex-LILITU) and drummer Stefen Burns (MONOLITH). The band are currently putting the finishing touches on their debut album, which is expected to arrive in early 2027 through Nefarious Industries.
Serving as the first introduction to the project, “Rabid Lycanthropy” blends thrash and death metal with technical, punk and blackened elements. The track was produced, mixed and mastered by Burns at B&M Studios in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, and arrives alongside an official lyric video.
For Scruggs, BURNING HAMMER emerged during a difficult period as an opportunity to pursue his own musical vision from beginning to end.
“BURNING HAMMER was born out of pure passion and a sense of personal fulfillment in a very dark and uncertain time,” Scruggs explains. “It gave me the ability to have a creative, positive, and productive outlet, and it gave me the chance to see my own vision come to life. Nothing to do with ego or power, but purely just to see something through that’s 100% mine. To stand on my own two feet.”
Describing the musical direction, Scruggs positions the band directly between death and thrash metal while incorporating a broader range of extreme metal influences.
“It’s too death to be thrash, too thrash to be death,” he says. “Tech tendencies with punk structures, blackened moments, and full of cryptic, conspiratorial, and fantastic lyrical topics, all wrapped up in a horror movie-inspired La Sexorcisto-type of package.”
The guitarist also emphasizes that the project is intended as an escape rather than an attempt to reinvent the genre.
“I’m not reinventing the wheel here. All I’m doing is presenting my brand of tire,” Scruggs says. “I write death/thrash songs with lyric topics to get the listener away from the real world for a little bit.”
Martin’s involvement follows a friendship with Scruggs that dates back to when HAVOK and ARSIS crossed paths on tour.
“Reece and I had wanted to work together since Havok and Arsis crossed paths on tour,” Martin says. “When we first started talking about what would become BURNING HAMMER, I could tell Reece quickly wanted to build something that hits back—a collision of thrash and early Shrapnel-style guitar heroics with the blunt force of death metal.”
Martin also revealed that the forthcoming record features several guest guitarists.
“It’s also a treat and a real honor to have so many friends and killer players contributing guest solos,” he adds. “I’m proud to be part of something that feels this alive, and I can’t wait for people to hear what we’ve built.”
Further details surrounding BURNING HAMMER’s debut album, including its title and release date, are expected to be announced ahead of its planned early 2027 release.
“Rabid Lycanthropy” is available now on digital platforms, with its official lyric video streaming on YouTube.
BURNING HAMMER are
Reece Scruggs — Guitar, vocals
Stefen Burns — Drums
Noah Martin — Bass