“On Earth As It Is In 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 favourite, and which was subsequently included on the Lars Ulrich, Geoff Barton ‘NWOBHM ’79 Revisited’ sampler album.
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 far too thought-provoking for all but the most enlightened to understand them. The final crushing blow came when their long-awaited 1986 album deal with Mausoleum collapsed as the label went bankrupt, followed by the tragic suicide of singer/guitarist, Dave Halliday in 1987. The remaining members drew a line in the sand and stopped playing overnight.
“Blasphemy And The Master”
Hell Human Remains (2011) Nuclear Blast Derby / UK
Tracklist: 1. Overture (Themes from Deathsquad) 1:14 2. On Earth As It Is In Hell 5:09 (Video) 3. Plague And Fyre 5:09 4. The Oppressors 5:53 5. Blasphemy And The Master 8:11 (Video) 6. Let Battle Commence 4:23 7. The Devil’s Deadly Weapon 10:14 8. The Quest 4:21 9. Macbeth 7:21 10. Save Us From Those Who Would Save Us 5:05 11. No Martyr’s Cage 9:00
“Darkhangel”
Kev Bower interview for Rawstatica about a rocky start back in 1982, Andy Sneap and being born again as a band.
A teenage Andy Sneap was a permanent fixture on the front row of almost every show HELL played and was also taught to play guitar by Halliday. He then went on to form Sabbat and become a renowned metal producer. Upon meeting again, the remaining members of HELL - Kev Bower (guitar/keys), Tony Speakman (bass) and Tim Bowler (drums) 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 (Kev’s brother) on vocals, the band finally recorded their first album “Human Remains” over a 3 year period releasing it through Nuclear Blast in 2011 .
2013 saw the release of the bands second album “Curse And Chapter” which saw a mix of 50% old 50% new material with David Bower and Andy Sneap now contributing to the song writing with Kev Bower. Meeting critical acclaim across the board .The band also completed a 25 date run throughout Europe and Scandinavia with Amon Amarth and label mates Carcass late that year.
Band: David Bower - Vocals Kev Bower - Guitar / Keyboards / Vocals Andy Sneap - Guitar Tony Speakman - Bass Tim Bowler - Drums
Hell Curse & Chapter (2013) Nuclear Blast Derby / UK
Tracklist: 1. Gehennae Incendiis 1:46 2. The Age Of Nefarious 3:46 (Video) 3. The Disposer Supreme 6:52 4. Darkhangel 7:15 (Video) 5. Harbinger Of Death 4:55 6. End Ov Days 5:34 (Video) 7. Deathsquad 5:13 8. Something Wicked This Way Comes 5:09 9. Faith Will Fall 4:08 10. Land Of The Living Dead 3:47 11. Deliver Us From Evil 4:47 12. A Vespertine Legacy 6:34
“End Ov Days”
“The Age Of Nefarious”
The band have recently signed with Loud Noise Booking Agency in The Netherlands and are currently writing their third album expected for a 2019 release.
- necro69mancer -