Review Summary: An excellent tribute and homage to 80s metal and hard rock legends like Judas Priest, Saxon and Dio.
Formed in 2012 in Toulouse, the capital of France’s southern Occitanie region Hellrock are a 'classic' heavy metal band who clearly draw inspiration from the likes of Judas Priest, Saxon, Dio and other influential masters of the 80's hard rock and metal scene. According to guitarist Rémi Bonin, the project begun as an evolution of previous works (presumably with other bands) that were heavier but less melodic. After some trials and tribulations, they finally settled on the following line-up:
Paul Eysette: Vocals
Rémi Bonin: Guitars
Pascal Renaudat: Guitars
Thomas Dechambre: Bass
David Lienard: Drums
Patrick Van Maurik: Vocals on selected tracks
So, at this point you may be thinking, if the band's been formed since 2012, why wasn't the record released until 2021? Well firstly, the band went through some line-up changes going through 2 vocalists (who didn't have time to commit in the end) before settling on Paul Eysette. After recording in a basic home setup initially, they weren't happy with the first few takes and needed to invest in better sound production and recording gear. Eventually after much hard work over almost a decade the album was released by Steel Shark records.
The clear aim of the album is to be true to their influences rather than try to reinvent the wheel or play something which sells well but isn't about who they are, and I think this is the reason why it works so well. The opening track 'This is Metal' is one of the heavier ones on the record being closer to some of the faster tempo double bass booming Judas Priest songs than anything else. A clear homage to metal in every way, this song is the perfect poster boy for the album, nothing progressive, but a highly enjoyable throwback to the 80s. From there 'Wanderer' is a high energy, similar tempo track that works as another excellent metal anthem with plenty of hooks, a nice solo and at times an almost Iron Maiden head banging feel. One thing that's clear throughout the whole album is the familiar and relatable vocals and the tight synchronicity of the band, although the tempo changes on the slower and more Bon Jovi or Scorpions like 'Outlaw' you get the sense that the whole band is on the same page from start to finish. Speaking of Outlaw, this track has an awesome almost western feel that reminds me of 'Dead or Alive' by Bon Jovi, I'm not sure whether this was intentional, but the song culminates with a nice little solo after a powerful vocal finishing with the repeated chorus whilst the guitar solo work continues in the background. Patrik Van Maruik handles the vocals on this one and it works well with a less edgy voice and warmer tone than Paul, whose voice suits some of the faster paced tracks. A strong song, but perhaps a little generic at times. Fortunately, the next two tracks, 'Operation Citadel' and 'Don't Come Alone' are absolute rippers, with an infectious feel of battle and glory reminiscent of the good ol' days of Manowar, for example. The guitar solos are turned up a notch, the hooks and vocals are stronger, and the drums play more of a role in these songs holding down strong tempos that keep the tracks ticking along nicely. The bass is also more noticeable here with some solid licks and grooves that are locked in with the drum work of David Lienard. Perhaps the only weaker point in Operation Citadel is a bit of repetitiveness towards the end, alas Don't Come Alone also repeats the chorus many times, but it's so catchy you can't knock it.
The second half of the album continues themes of war, battle and heroism with a variety of songs from ballads (Heart Beat Away) and mid-tempo songs (Sailing to Atlantis, Blood Red Line) to faster tempo tracks like 'The Savage From the Mountain' and this was very intentional as the band wanted a mix of songs to keep the listener guessing, something which is oft overlooked by less developed albums where all the songs can meld into one and it can feel like one giant 40 minute bore. So, there's variety and some originality, but why listen to another band attempting to emulate the greats?
I've listened to a lot of New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal from new emerging bands, but what separates the wheat from the chaff is high quality vocals from a talented singer and Hellrock have this in spades. Further to this, it's clear that the music is made to be in tribute to these bands that invented the genre whilst adding their own flavour to the fore, not as a replacement or reinvention of the fundamentals of heavy metal.
Ultimately for some people this will be a tired album from yesteryear with nothing new to offer, but to others who love and maybe even live in the 80's and 90's metal scenes it will be a welcome throwback to the golden years. Whether it's nostalgia, an unwillingness to move onto new genres and sounds or a belief that the days of Judas Priest, Dio, Saxon and Maiden were as good as it gets, this album has the potential to blow you away and is an excellent homage to and celebration of the kind of metal you can listen to anywhere, anytime and ultimately the metal or hard rock that spawned the beasts of all other genres and sounds in the field.
