Black Magnet

Lore & Background

James Hammontree started Black Magnet in 2018, with the demo track 'Dreams Beyond Control' being the first song written for the project. The four-song self-titled demo tape was written in a month; following its release, Hammontree assembled a live band to perform at a three-week tour. Recording for the debut album Hallucination Scene began soon after, taking a year and a half, with Hammontree performing all instruments. The record was produced by Sanford Parker and released on September 4, 2020 via 20 Buck Spin. In December 2021, Black Magnet announced the sophomore record Body Prophecy and released the music video for 'Violent Mechanix.' During this time, the band became a three-piece. In June 2022, the single 'Floating in Nothing' was released, followed by 'Hermetix' in July 2022, premiered by Revolver. Produced and engineered by Sanford Parker, Body Prophecy was released on July 29, 2022 via 20 Buck Spin.

Reader's Guide

Black Magnet's significance lies in their revival and modernization of industrial metal, drawing comparisons to foundational acts like Godflesh and Nine Inch Nails. Their debut Hallucination Scene was described by Blabbermouth.net as 'a superb example of flagrant and admirable Godflesh worship,' while critics noted influences from EBM sounds of Ministry and Skinny Puppy, as well as Alice in Chains and 1990s Memphis rap. The band's evolution from a solo project to a four-piece, and their consistent output on 20 Buck Spin, demonstrates a steady growth within the underground metal scene. Their sophomore album Body Prophecy continued this trajectory, with singles like 'Hermetix' gaining attention from major outlets. The addition of drummer Jared Branson in 2023 and the single 'Birth' suggest ongoing development. Black Magnet's legacy is as a contemporary industrial metal act that honors its influences while carving its own path.

Did You Know?

• Black Magnet started as a solo project by James Hammontree in 2018.
• The debut album Hallucination Scene was produced by Sanford Parker.
• The band expanded to a four-piece in 2023 with drummer Jared Branson.
• The single 'Hermetix' was premiered by Revolver in July 2022.

Origins as a Solo Vision

James Hammontree launched Black Magnet in 2018 as a personal, one-man creative outlet based in Oklahoma City. The project's very first composition was the demo track "Dreams Beyond Control," which set the tonal foundation for everything that followed. Within a single month, Hammontree had written and recorded a four-song self-titled demo tape, establishing the raw, aggressive framework that would define the band's identity. Once that tape reached listeners, the solo endeavor quickly outgrew its one-person structure. Hammontree recruited additional musicians to form a live band capable of supporting a three-week touring schedule, marking the project's first step toward becoming a collaborative group. This initial period—moving from solitary recording sessions to a shared stage—laid the groundwork for the band's evolving identity. What began as Hammontree's individual artistic statement gradually transformed into a collective musical voice, though his role as the primary creative force and multi-instrumentalist remained constant throughout the project's history. The Oklahoma City base gave the band a distinct regional anchor even as its sonic ambitions reached far beyond any single scene.

Sonic Identity and Influences

Black Magnet's sound is firmly rooted in industrial metal, yet the band's palette draws from a surprisingly wide range of sources. Critics have repeatedly drawn parallels between the group's output and the work of Godflesh and Nine Inch Nails. Dom Lawson of Blabbermouth.net characterized the debut album Hallucination Scene as a "superb example of flagrant and admirable Godflesh worship," underscoring how deeply the band channels that particular vein of abrasive, weighty metal. Todd Manning of No Clean Singing broadened the picture, noting that Black Magnet also pulls from Meathook Seed and the electronic body music traditions of Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, and Skinny Puppy. Beyond the industrial and EBM lineage, the band has cited Alice in Chains as an influence, suggesting a melodic sensibility threaded through the heavier material. Perhaps most distinctively, Hammontree has pointed to 1990s Memphis rap as another creative wellspring, a reference that hints at rhythmic and textural elements less commonly associated with industrial metal. This eclectic mix—brutal guitar work, synthetic textures, melodic hooks, and hip-hop-inflected rhythm—gives Black Magnet a signature that resists easy categorization while remaining firmly anchored in the industrial tradition.

Studio Output and Label Partnership

Black Magnet's recorded catalog reflects a steady, deliberate progression. The debut album Hallucination Scene was a labor of intense personal commitment: Hammontree performed every instrument himself, and the recording process stretched over a year and a half. Sanford Parker handled production, and the finished record found a home on the 20 Buck Spin label, which released it on September 4, 2020. The band followed with a string of singles—"Divination Equipment," "Punishment Map," and "Hegemon"—all issued in 2020, alongside a music video for "Divination Equipment." The sophomore effort, Body Prophecy, was announced in December 2021 with the "Violent Mechanix" music video. Singles "Floating in Nothing" and "Hermetix" (the latter premiered by Revolver magazine in July 2022) built anticipation before the full album dropped on July 29, 2022, again through 20 Buck Spin and again produced and engineered by Parker. The discography also includes the 2018 self-titled EP, the 2023 single "Birth," and the upcoming 2025 album Megamantra. Multiple music videos spanning 2018 through 2022 further document the band's visual storytelling alongside its audio work.

Evolving Lineup and Collective Identity

One of Black Magnet's most defining characteristics is how its personnel has shifted and grown over time. The project began as Hammontree's solo operation, but the need for live performance after the 2018 demo tape prompted the first expansion. By the time Body Prophecy was in development in late 2021, the group had settled into a three-piece configuration. In 2022, new members joined the fold: Ryne Bratcher took on guitar duties, while Eric Gorman contributed synthesizer work and additional vocals. Both have been with the band since 2022. The most recent evolution came in 2023, when drummer Jared Branson joined, expanding Black Magnet into a full four-piece lineup. With Branson's addition, the band released the single "Birth" on October 27, 2023, signaling a new chapter in their collective sound. Throughout every configuration change, Hammontree has remained the constant creative center, handling vocals and multiple instruments since the project's inception. This pattern of gradual expansion—from one to four—mirrors the band's broader trajectory from a solitary artistic statement to a fully realized group identity.