Biography
Distinct from the later Black Sabbath tribute act that included ex-Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur, the Hand of Doom formed as a little-known heavy rock quartet in the remote German hamlet of Bad Hersfeld during the 1970s. Positioned close to the former dividing line separating East and West Germany, the group operated far from any metropolitan or press hubs, leaving their late-decade activities almost entirely unrecorded. The lineup consisted of vocalist Andreas Rößner, guitarist Uwe Ellenberger, bassist Klaus Bode, and drummer Karl-Heinz Wehde, with occasional second guitarist Ralf Rossbauch rounding out the ensemble at times. Their solitary album, the aptly named Poisonoise, appeared in 1979—more than a year after the musicians had already disbanded. Only the record’s singular blend of proto-punk, hard rock, and metal, together with a small yet enduring following, prevented the Hand of Doom from vanishing into complete obscurity. In 2008 Shadow Kingdom Records answered mounting online interest by locating the long-retired Rößner, securing his original master tapes plus selected rehearsal and concert recordings, and issuing Poisonoise on compact disc for the first time.
Albums