Strikes Like Lightning - Hellacopters > Reviews > Is Rock and Roll Dead

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money	Satisfactory

Advantages:	-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -
Disadvantages:	-  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -  -

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Visiting The Hellacopters website today all you see is the statement Rock and Roll is Dead; no further information is given just that. Checking Kerrang.com provides a similar blank response NME.com does exactly the same thing then visiting their record company website cargo records it is similarly enigmatic with the message :-

Things to Do must build website due 11/2004

Very bloody enigmatic if you ask me but certainly intriguing, either that or just good olde fashioned underground laziness.......

Anyway this six track ep was released at the tail end of 2004 and features The Hellacopters in typical great high octane rock and roll form. Who cares if it sounds surprisingly similar to the last album this is rock and roll and it is supposed to sound like this. The two guitar parts riff against each other, solos soar and dive around your head, complimented by an incredibly tight rhythm section drumming and superb rock and roll keyboard thumping.

"Turn The Wrong Key"

This one blasts into the stratosphere from nowhere the guitars blast out superbly played riffs which are enhanced by the rhythm section and the odd keyboard being thumped. Lyrics are fairly standard for a song called Turn The Wrong Key but what is wrong with that?????? nothing

"Take Me On"

Some chunky riffing here with the odd fill, then it blows into an anthemic chorus, and then over again. This is text book rock and roll and when it is done this well I have no complaints.

"A View From Nowhere"

Time for a bit of balladry as they tone down the proceedings with going soft on us, again textbook rock and roll done with style and class, it does leave you in a rather reflective mood whilst listening but then that is the general intention.........

"Blinded By The Light"

Thankfully not the Manfred Mann's Earthband song but it could easily have been. It is a cacophony of pure rock and roll brilliance.

"Fiends & Frankenstein’s"

off we go into a mid tempo boogie but not in the bad evil Status Quo sense, which makes it good...........

"On The Line"

Anyone here like Lynerd Skinnerd then this is the one on this EP for you. A great piece of southern rock from Sweden.

If you like anything from the Ramones to AC/DC then this is definitely for you, it is simply great songs done in a tried and trusted Rock and Roll fashion, but when the energy flows as naturally as this who needs poncy arrangements or anything poncy, this is rock and roll best played loud with a bottle of good bourbon in a smoky sweaty backroom of a dodgy dive full of dodgy punters in a dodgy part of town...........