Album review: HELL IN THE CLUB – Hell of Fame

Frontiers Records [Release Date 04.09.20]

Hell in the Club, whose latest album is remarkably their fifth, are one of the few bands on Frontiers Records huge roster that are actually from their native Italy- even if band members have adopted the most English of aliases such as Andy, Mark and Dave.

The first impression is of a melange of different styles and influences with a raw and endearingly home gown feel. Opener ‘We’ll Never Leave the Castle’ boasts massive hooks on both bridge and chorus that call to mind Reckless Love, let down only by the rather cluttered everything but the kitchen sink production that characterises the album.

However it is far from a typical song. ‘Worse Case Scenario’ is altogether grittier, a slightly disjointed song getting there eventually by the chorus and ‘Here Today Gone Tomorrow’ one of a few songs that go in a heavier direction, reflecting the roots of band members previous outfits.

Both ‘Joker’ and the sleazy ‘No Room in Hell’ have strong Motley Crue influences, also reflected in the Dr Feelgood like intro to ‘Last of a Dying Kind’, one of my favourites on the album which has a catchy feel reminding me of Scandinavian contemporaries like Ammunition and Crazy Lixx.

‘Nostalgia’ – with synths that are described in the credits as ‘80’s keyboards’ and lyrics to match- nevertheless is a bit disjointed as a song, and both ‘Mr Grouch’, where a melody struggles to merge from a messy song, and ‘Tokyo Lights’ have rather too much going on. The overall impression is that they are not quite at the level of contemporaries as Crashdiet in honing and refining their chosen style.

However the album is pleasingly diverse and they can make different styles work effectively – from the ballad ‘Lullaby for an Angel’, where the chorus is very Bon Jovi or Poison-esque, and closer ‘Lucifer’s Magic’ with the power metal feel of a Priest or Primal Fear.

It’s a bundle of contrasting and not always complementary styles, but an exuberantly fun listen that will grow on you. *** 3/4

Review by Andy Nathan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)