2011

 

When the entity about to burst forth has waited hidden, seething and festering for a quarter of a century before unloading its gross assault on the senses, the outcome is potentially spectacular. Such is the case with UK metal legends Hell. Cited as a huge indirect influence and as one of the true founding fathers of occult metal, the band formed in 1982 from the carcasses of UK metal bands Race Against Time and Paralex, whose White Lightning EP was listed by Metallica as a favorite. Despite over five years of constant touring, the band were cruelly overlooked by the '80's music press who just didn't get it. Hell were too different, too extreme, too musically intelligent and the final crushing blow came with the tragic suicide of singer/guitarist Dave Halliday in 1987. A young Andy Sneap was a permanent fixture on the front row of almost every show Hell played before going on to become a renowned metal producer. Upon meeting again, the remaining members of Hell talked with Andy about re-recording the old material to release in conjunction with the old demos. With Sneap replacing Halliday on guitar and David Bower on vocals, the band has recorded 10 Hell classics from the 80's. One hugely respected European journal has already described Human Remains as one of the best things they have heard in the last 15 years and THE band to watch out for in 2011!