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Hellraiser

    
       
       
       
     
             
Hell Freezes Over are a heavy metal band from Japan formed in 2013, releasing the 'Hell's Garage' demo in 2014. The bands first official release was the 2018 four song E.P. 'Speed Metal Assault', with the bands debut full length album 'Hellraiser', a 2020 release...    
             
...and what a release it is! Ten songs of pure and unabashed heavy metal of the ultimate traditional variety. And when I say traditional, just think early eighties Iron Maiden, Raven, Angel Witch and Judas Priest. The Japanese five piece scorch through their debut at break neck speed, banging heads at every twist and turn. First video single released from 'Hellraiser', is the barn storming 'Overwhelm' - and if you need any more convincing of where the bands influence lies, just look at their imagery... Denim clad, studded leather, white trainers, long hair, and the classic "flying v"... Everything you'd expect from an eighties metal band - but here we are forty years later and it's all still on show. And as for 'Overwhelm', wow just doesn't do it justice. Superb, brilliant, and fantastic are better words to describe the aural eargasm. 'Overwhelm' is over six minutes long, and everything an eighties metal fan dreams about is on offer - pace, aggression, head bang ability, a chant style chorus, and a Halford/Dickinson vocal performance replete with their characteristic "metal scream". 'Overwhelm' is a fucking belter, and a perfect way to launch an album - but 'Overwhelm' languishes as the albums ninth song...    
             
...with the band thundering up to it with another eight heavy metal marvels. Album opener (and title song) 'Hellraiser' is very quick outta the blocks, and fairly thunders along at a ferocious pace. Immediate head banging will ensue, as the band manage to recreate the same level of excitement the aforementioned bands created during heavy metals infant years during the eighties. 'Hellraiser' (the song) is a pulsating powerhouse of an anthem, with listeners the world over chanting "hellraiser" as loud as they possibly can. And cue the Judas Priest influenced 'Roadkill' - an infectious and swinging romp, encompassing the whole NWOBHM flavour with its chopping guitar riffage. The pace is perfectly "foot on the monitor" matched, the head bang ability is sky high, and in the feisty shape of 'Roadkill', Hell Freezes Over are on to a winner - for the band are gonna win a huge amount of fans with this one.    
             
Unadulterated and unabashed, 'End The Breath Of Night' is traditional heavy metal through and through. The thunder booms very loud, as the band heavy things up, maintaining a mid tempo pace. And now for a new anthem for a new generation - 'Grant You Metal' is a NWOBHM sounding barnstormer. The guitar sound so synonymous with the iconic NWOBHM evolution, is high in the mix, leading the way like the brightest light you could ever imagine. The chant style chorus is gonna be loved by a live audience who are gonna scream and screech 'til their throats hurt. At just under three minutes in length 'Burn Your Life' is the shortest song on offer, yet probably the fastest. 'Burn Your Life' sets a blistering pace as it rockets forward at a speed that is likely to break the sound barrier. Everything Hell Freezes Over have delivered so far has been scorching hot, and everything a traditional metal fan could wish for.    
             
Bringing a more melodic feel to the album, 'The Last Frontier' opens in the vein of classic Iron Maiden - but after just thirty three seconds, the melodic feel disappears to be replaced with a phenomenally paced fire and brimstone rampage. 'The Last Frontier' also has a rabble rousing chant style chorus that is simply gorgeous and will surely have one hundred percent audience participation. If you look at a calendar, the eighties are long gone, but the incredible style of metal that was created during that decade will live on forever. And with bands such as Hell Freezes Over, the eighties style of metal is in very good hands. And oh my fucking God - what a corker 'Phantom Helicopter Attack' is. Faster than a bullet, 'Phantom Helicopter Attack' has a slightly darker feel about it, the guitars screeching through riff after riff, and the thunderous rhythm sending mosh pits bat shit crazy.    
             
Even though the album hasn't finished yet, I recommend it for all the NWOBHM fans, and any fan of the traditional heavy metal style. 'Hellraiser' (the album) is a must have in your collections. And the great stuff just keeps coming... This time it's the blistering 'Hawkeye' that takes front and centre, flying along faster than the Japanese bullet train, and taking a step into thrash metal territory with its ferocious rhythm. The aggression level sewn into 'Hawkeye' is undeniable, the pace full of purpose and urgency. And talking of purpose and urgency, 'Overwhelm' comes thundering to the fore, sending many metal fans back to the eighties, back to when metal was in its infancy, with the NWOBHM evolution just beginning. 'Overwhelm' is a jaw dropping aphrodisiac - just the sound of the opening guitar riff is enough to send arousing sensations throughout the entire body, making more than just the hairs on the back of my neck stand up erect!    
             
So how do you follow that? 'Overwhelm' was an amazing climax to a sensational forty minute session of heavy metal, leaving you exhausted and in a high state of euphoria. Well, Hell Freezes Over deliver a perfect after session relaxation moment - the seven minutes plus instrumental 'Eternal March Of Valor'. Just imagine Maiden's 'Losfer Words (Big 'Orra)' angrier and more aggressive, and you'll get some idea. 'Eternal March Of Valor' is like an athletes warm down after a training session, still exercising but winding down. Hell Freezes Over have made a late charge for Album Of The Year with their striking debut full length - and I for one will be voting for it.    
             
Overall, a stunning debut release, Hell Freezes Over tantalize the senses with a terrific torrent of traditional heavy metal.    
             
             
Review by Iron Mathew Collins    
             
Reviewed for Metal Gods TV    
             
             
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