HELL — Human Remains (review)

Album · 2011 · Heavy Metal

4/5 · 2011-10-11
UMUR

"Human Remains" is the debut full-length studio album by UK heavy metal act Hell. The album was released in May 2011 by Nuclear Blast Records. Hell were active in the years 1982 - 1987 but because of a string of unfortunate circumstances the band didn´t get a chance to release a full-length studio album back then. Hell had signed a deal with the Belgian label Mausoleum, but two weeks prior to the recording of what should have been the band´s debut album, Mausoleum collapsed into bankruptcy. That event left the band disillusioned and as a consequence Hell disbanded in 1987. Lead vocalist/ guitarist Dave Halliday took the break-up especially hard and committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning shortly after the band had disbanded.

All tracks on "Human Remains" were written in the period 1982 - 1987 but re-recorded for this release. Several of the tracks were written of co-written by Dave Halliday. Second guitarist/Keyboard player Kev Bower brought in his brother David Bower to fill the empty lead vocal spot (former Sabbat vocalist Martin Walkyier actually layed down vocal tracks for the full album, but no one was satisfied with the result) and former Sabbat guitarist Andy Sneap to fill the second guitarist spot. As an interesting anekdote it was actually Dave Halliday who taught Andy Sneap to play guitar back in the early eighties. In addition to his membership in Sabbat, Andy Sneap is of course also known for his numerous productions for acts like Nevermore, Arch Enemy, Kreator...etc. "Human Remains" is also graced by a trademark clear, powerful and dry Andy Sneap production.

The music on the 11 tracks, 66:00 minutes long album is heavy metal with occult themed lyrics and imagery. Despite the modern production it´s obvious that these tracks were written in the early- to mid eighties and acts like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden can be used as references but it´s especially Mercyful Fate that Hell share a lot of similarities to. The manic, mad and theatrical vocal performance by David Bower does the occult lyrics great justice and while his high pitched vocal moments are few I still think he and King Diamond have a lot in common. But the instrumental part of the music also bears a lot of similarities to Mercyful Fate. The music is generally heavier, darker and more hard edged than many of the eighties contemporaries. The longest and most theatrical tracks like "Blasphemy and the Master", "Macbeth", "No Martyr´s Cage" and especially the keyboard laden and slightly progressive "The Devil's Deadly Weapon" are great tunes that show the diversity of Hell´s music but I think it´s the harder edged and more "regular" tracks like "On Earth As It Is In Hell", "Plague And Fyre" and "Save Us From Those Who Would Save Us" that really kicks some serious ass.

Other than a production that might sound slightly too modern for the material (I would have prefered a more raw and organic sound production) I think Hell makes a pretty successful comeback to the scene with "Human Remains". It´ll be interesting to see if they follow it up with a second album of material written today and how that holds up to this one. For now I´ll just enjoy "Human Remains" and rate it with 4 stars.