Metal Reviews
Metal Reviews
HADES |
| Hades are : Dan Lorenzo On Guitar Alan Tecchio on Vocals Ed Fuhrman on Lead Guitar Scott LePage on Bass Dave Lescinsky on Drums The tracks are : 1. $avior$elf 2. Decline & Fall of the American Empire 3. Our Father 4. Active Contrition 5. To Know One 6. In The Words Of The Profit 7. The Agnostic 8. Y2K 9. End of the Bargain 10. Fall 11. The Athiest I was sitting in my local hostelry the other day discussing the important events of the week with a friend of mine, you know what I mean, the things that really matter in a life. Things like "What would it be like to be a Forest fan (English football team Nottingham Forest) going to work on a Monday morning", "Whether Glenn Hoddle was indeed the Second Coming or just a complete prick" or "How many of B*witched actually swallowed". My friend then suggested playing a guessing game like what bra size the new barmaid takes. " No, no" I said "far to easy, try this for size". "Can you name a band who first received national attention way back in 1984, released 2 critically acclaimed albums,'Resisting success' and 'If At First You Don't Succeed', and who's later album 'Exist or Resist 'caused ripples that fans where still asking about a follow up some 8 years after it's release" My friend sat motionless for sometime, until he finely uttered the words of "I give up". As quick as a rabbit down a hole the word Hades flew out of my mouth like a hurricane. My friend was so taken a back by my words that he actually stopped drinking. And in a rather loud voice said "Not Hades, the legendary U.S. thrashers" "Thats Right", I said. But didn't they go their seperate ways a long time ago. Well yes, they did, but like ant true professionals they patched up their differences and are about to release their new album. $aviorSelf was released on the 22nd February amd apart from a new drummer Dave Lescinsky, it's the original line-up. My friend paused for a second ot two before adding his twopenneth worth. "Yes, yes, it's all very well, them reforming, but whats the point". THE POINT, The Point, (almost fever pitch!!), the point is that Hades are just as relevant today as they were in the 80's, first class songs, great guitar work, fine rhythms, in fact one could say that $avior$elf is melodic thrash for the next millenium. Oh, and by the way this album has a concept to it, look, take a look at the dollar signs in the S's of $avior$elf for a clue. No, the pennies still not dropped, the message is clear, don't look for handouts, take control of your own life, in other words Savior Self. My friend still seemed unmoved, look I said, put the CD in your walkman, play the damn thing and if you don't agree with everything I've said then I'll buy the beers for the rest of the evening. And so he did and the next 36 mins turned out to be the quietest I've spent in a pub for years as my friend listened to such blockbusters as $aviorSelf, the superb hypnotic vocals of 'Decline and Fall' or the way Hades combine the traditional Lord's Prayer with the hard hitting 'Contrition'. In fact this album has an almost seamless quality to it, each track blending in perfectly with the next, and as the last few bars of the guitar based instrumental 'The Athiest' steadily fades into the distance, I can see a smile begin to appear on the face of my friend. "You know", he said "Your right, I can't wait to play this at home". "Hang on a minute", I Said, "Thats my copy, you'll just have to buy your own." "I will", he said as he sank back in the chair "as soon as HMV open, I will be adding this to my collection (I suggest you do as well) right way. Released by Metal
Blade Records GmbH, P.O. Box 1332, 73054 Eislingen, Germany. |
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Damnation Hades |
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The first remark I'll make is that I get the idea behind the burning flag on the album cover… a lot of people won't or will make a big production out of it for lack of anything better to do with their pessimism but I think between the title and image, it's fairly obvious. We live in a "damned" nation and it's time we stand up and really make it something to be proud of. Hades again uses political upheaval as their motivation-the title track is clear evidence with a thumping beat and hell-bent lyrics that exonerate the mockery of justice or more so the gratuitous nature of such… The Tecchio/Lorenzo team is back again and hard as it is to imagine they originally hit the scene in the mid-80s, they've done well in promoting their latest comeback, which began three albums ago with the underrated "Savior Self." Thus far I'd put this record right up there with the new Annihilator record in terms of pure power riffing and clear focus, there's nothing too excessive to wander about aimlessly in as the tunes are simple, direct and epitomize what exactly a fistful of metal might feel like once it makes contact with your unsuspecting face. "Absorbed" is another standout quality track with its slightly doomish pattern, dark riffs and haunting vocal reverb beckoning a "unified civilization." And this coming from a band from New Jersey! An extra side note worth pointing out is that for the third time running no lawyers, managers or cover songs were used in the making of this record-noble enough but even more significant, no ballads! "Stressfest" is another lethal bombardment in a stomp yer boots through the mud kinda way and leave tracks over the carpet just for spite-damn, I think this was the song I was thinking of during the last hour at the office today… and I hadn't even heard the damned thing yet! If they were so inclined or the Hard radio welcoming committee should open their door, this one would make for a crushing first single-it slams, stammers, screams and if it doesn't relieve your stress by the time its over, it'll sure as Hell give you enough reason for more. Thrash-Metal traditionalists will sink their molars quickly into "Biocaust," an environmentally friendly outburst that's the featured fret burner here. Hades made the most of their rebirth a few years back and with the release of "Damnation," which features the input of a new and improved rhythm section, builds strongly on the footing of the past while an increase in intensity is immediately felt. Released by Metal
Blade Records GmbH, P.O. Box 1332, 73054 Eislingen, Germany.
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