Hellfueled- Born II Rock
Black Lodge/Sound Pollution, 2005
By James Willcock
This Swedish band play Zack Wylde style old school with a healthy dose of Megadeth-esque thrash thrown in for good measure. With traditional, testicle-contractingly high vocals and lyrics along the themes of car racing, women and rocking out, the only way to describe this is - old school (even the chorus to the first song has the lines "Can't get enough/ This is what I love/ I control a monster/ Right in front of me", referring to car racing).
This is their second full length album, following up from the imaginatively titled 2003 release, Volume 1 (do see what they’re doing with the number system there? Clever, huh). It doesn't tread any ground that hasn't already been well covered before, but I don’t think that was ever really the aim in the first place. The music is tight and well played, with plenty of guitar solos and drum fills to keep the listener entertained. Whether or not you like this album simply boils down to whether or not you like the style overall. If you don't, it'll probably just grate on your nerves a bit. However, if this kind of thing does float your boat, I suggest checking it out, as it is better than average for new bands doing the old school thing. Personally, I think I stand on the middle ground, as this really doesn't bother me either way, with personal favourites including album opener 'Can't Get Enough' and 'On The Run', but I'm not going to rush out and buy their entire back catalogue any time soon.
6.5/10
Black Lodge/Sound Pollution, 2005
By James Willcock
This Swedish band play Zack Wylde style old school with a healthy dose of Megadeth-esque thrash thrown in for good measure. With traditional, testicle-contractingly high vocals and lyrics along the themes of car racing, women and rocking out, the only way to describe this is - old school (even the chorus to the first song has the lines "Can't get enough/ This is what I love/ I control a monster/ Right in front of me", referring to car racing).
This is their second full length album, following up from the imaginatively titled 2003 release, Volume 1 (do see what they’re doing with the number system there? Clever, huh). It doesn't tread any ground that hasn't already been well covered before, but I don’t think that was ever really the aim in the first place. The music is tight and well played, with plenty of guitar solos and drum fills to keep the listener entertained. Whether or not you like this album simply boils down to whether or not you like the style overall. If you don't, it'll probably just grate on your nerves a bit. However, if this kind of thing does float your boat, I suggest checking it out, as it is better than average for new bands doing the old school thing. Personally, I think I stand on the middle ground, as this really doesn't bother me either way, with personal favourites including album opener 'Can't Get Enough' and 'On The Run', but I'm not going to rush out and buy their entire back catalogue any time soon.
6.5/10
