Some albums, just by listening to them, make you feel hip. And spinning By the Grace of God, the fifth studio album from Sweden's loud and fast (and hip) Hellacopters, certainly made me feel cooler than when I listen to, say, Hammerfall. Recorded back in 2001 but released in the States only recently by the cleverly named Liquor and Poker Music label, By the Grace of God is blessed with an abundance of three-minute rock and roll gems that salute KISS, Cheap Trick and Thin Lizzy, with a pinch of punk, a glob of glam and a chunk of charm thrown in to keep things fresh. These five Swedes were once signed to the trendy Sub Pop label, and they play loosely but competently. Each song on By the Grace of God – punctuated by rousing, smartass vocals, a raw rhythm section and searing guitars – merits attention. Let The Hellacopters' fellow countrymen, The Hives, sweep away the rest of America with its annoying garage-band sound and leave The Hellacopters to us metalheads. (The U.S. version of the album also comes with two bonus tracks, two music videos, and a patch featuring the artwork. How hip is that?)
Track Listing:
1) By the Grace of God (3:04)
2) All New Low (3:27)
3) Down on Freestreet (2:41)
4) Better Than You (2:45)
5) Carry Me Home (3:43)
6) Rainy Days Revisited (3:41)
7) It's Good But It Just Ain't Right (2:55)
8) U.Y.F.S. (3:58)
9) On Time (3:10)
10) All I've Got (2:44)
11) Go Easy Now (2:54)
12) The Exorcist (2:38)
13) Pride (3:31)
14) Big Guns (3:12)
15) Red Light (3:12)
Videos: By the Grace of God & Carry Me Home
Total Time: 47:10
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