Killer band with an average singer. Musically, Hellion are most defo on the money but it’s hard to get past the limitations of Anne Boleyn. She would be perfect in a sleaze/glam band but in a metal band as good as these guys, nope. Chet Thompson is a killer player and a definite fretboard gymnast and you have to wonder if they had a killer vocalist, would they have been a lot bigger in terms of sales and popularity?
Bad Attitude is a case in point. Great song with some monster playing but the vocal does the song no justice. Better Off Dead has all the possibilities to have been a metal anthem, killer intro and pounding groove with some ripping riffage but the hook and chorus just… well, you get it. The only song where the vocal doesn’t bother me too much is the opener to Side 2, Explode. This baby just blasts along with double kicks pounding and the solo is totally nuts.
You may think I don’t rate this record too high, but I don’t I think musically it’s a must have for all metal fans, just for the guitar alone.
8.5/10 from The Grooveman.
