By now, we all know the story; Hell were a UK band who burst onto the scene during the initial stages of the NWOBHM era and blazed the live circuit with a ferocity that saw the band gain plenty of fans. Around the mid '80s the bands proposed record deal went south as the label went bankrupt, and then guitarist/vocalist Dave Halliday committed suicide, so the band was left in shambles and disbanded. Loyal fan Andy Sneap, who also learned how to play guitar by Halliday, went on to fame with his band Sabbat and became an in-demand heavy metal producer, and by chance much later on ran into the old members of Hell who were interested in re-recording their old material & demos. From there the idea came to put the band officially back together with Sneap on guitar to take Halliday's place, and add new lead singer David Bower. Human Remains was their official debut in 2011, and here two years later we have the follow-up Curse and Chapter.
History lesson over, Curse and Chapter, which is comprised of mostly all new material, is quite an achievement. That spirit of the classic NWOBHM sound, mixed with some power metal & thrash, is ever present, but with a modern touch, and the songs here are instantly engaging and plenty exciting. Fans of Iron Maiden, Saxon, Satan, King Diamond, Savatage, and Blind Guardian will love all the soaring vocals, galloping rhythms, crunchy guitar riffs, and the occasional orchestral keyboard embellishments that adorn this album. Vocalist David Bower is as over the top and theatrical as ever, delivering some awesome passages on killer tracks "The Age of Nefarious", "Darkhangel", "The Disposer Supreme", and the absolutely crushing "Harbinger Of Death". Sneap & Kev Bower deliver the goods as far as thunderous riffs and shredding solos go, which is everything you want from a classic sounding metal album, and for those piledriver rhythms both bassist Tony Speakman and drummer Tim Bowler do a mighty fine job. Other hot tunes here include the mystical "End Ov Days", the sizzling orchestral instrumental "Deathsquad", and the marvelous power metal attack of "Land Of The Living Dead".
Pretty classy stuff all around truth be told, as Hell delivers a wide assortment of heavy sounds that keeps the spirit of the NWOBHM alive and well. Expertly produced by Sneap, Curse and Chapter is a ton of fun, a vibrant, melodic heavy metal album that deserves your immediate attention.
Track Listing
1. Gehennae Incendiis
2. The Age of Nefarious
3. The Disposer Supreme
4. Darkhangel
5. Harbinger Of Death
6. End Ov Days
7. Deathsquad (Instrumental)
8. Something Wicked This Way Comes
9. Faith Will Fall
10. Land Of The Living Dead
11. Deliver Us from Evil
12. A Vespertine Legacy
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
