The U.K.’s Hell’s Addiction is everything you know and love about hard rocking metal, in a modern-day package. The Leicester quartet’s sound is a head on collision of AC/DC meets Pantera with a shot of Motörhead and a taste of W.A.S.P.: Pulverizing and infectious.
Frontman Ben Sargent’s gruff vocal delivery is spot on and his brother Liam’s fretwork is thick with heavy as balls riffage and sweet solos. The rhythm section of bassist Jason Green and drummer Luke Morely sets the foundation with plenty of rumble, swagger and swing.
Every track on the band's debut album, “Raise Your Glass” pumps with energy and thunderous rhythms, including the anthemic title track, ”Alcohol”, “Let the Good Times Roll”, “Big Bitch” and “Feels Like Rock and Roll”. Even a slower track like the burning “Brand New Story” has plenty of driving power.
The album closer, “Wings Of An Angel” recalls classic Skid Row while there’s a bit of a Guns N’ Rose flavor to “Heaven Sent Me”. Hell’s Addiction play every song like a band possessed.
On many of the album’s tracks including “Break Free” and “Feel The Fire” the band manage to bridge the sound of 80s Sunset Strip Hair Metal with the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. The latter is due in part to Liam’s guitar riffs which are often fueled by old school NWOBHM influences. Meanwhile Ben’s gritty vocal delivery is at once caustic and compelling. His own guitar compliment’s his brother’s for a crowd-pleasing wall of rhythmic revelry. Green and Morely hit it hard, with raw intensity, but also understand that less can often be more: Plenty of groove down low, and propulsive artillery on top.
If you love hard rock there’s simply nothing not to like about Hell’s Addiction. “Raise Your Glass” is a headbanging rock and roll orgy for the ears. Crank it up and get your party on!
Rating 8.4/10
Music is the universal language: Speak it loudly!
Rustyn Rose is a veteran music journalist who owns and operates Metalholic Magazine and Metalholic Radio.
Comments