Grim Reaper
See You In Hell

THE REVIEW

In 1984, during the peak of the N.W.O.B.H.M., another English metal band debuted with their first album, namely "See You In Hell", drawing attention from both critics and young fans. That band was Grim Reaper. With this album, the band achieved considerable success, which would be expanded and confirmed with the subsequent "Fear No Evil" and "Rock You To Hell". During that period, alongside them, were bands like Raven, Samson, Diamond Head, Anvil, and Holocaust, who continued to offer music, gloriously supporting the "hard music".

Grim Reaper, led by the charismatic vocalist Steve Grimmett, presented powerful heavy metal, with small speed influences typical of the eighties, characterized by Bowcott's solid riffs and Grimmett's incredible falsetto vocal ranges. They are a band that dissolved prematurely, recording only three albums, which were nonetheless very important for the band's fame, while Steve Grimmett continued to produce excellent music with other great projects (Weezer and his Steve Grimmet Band). One of the recent live appearances of Grim Reaper (reformed temporarily with a lineup different from the original) was at the 2006 Keep It True, where the band magnificently reprised the great successes of the eighties. "See You In Hell", meaning "Ci Vediamo All'Inferno", immediately became an anthem for young metalheads, becoming a massive hit for the group, just like "Metal On Metal" is for Anvil or "Rock Until You Drop" is for Raven.

The album features eight very beautiful, energetic, incisive, and powerful songs, like the furious "Wrath Of The Ripper", the beautiful "The Show Must Go On" (..it's not the one by Queen!), "Dead On Arrival", and the epic "Run For Your Life". The opener is the famous title track which, with its renowned and effective riff and incredibly engaging chorus, proves to be one of the most beautiful and important pieces by Grim Reaper. "Dead On Arrival" is another great hit, where Grimmett's performance is remarkable, reaching high peaks thanks to his beautiful falsetto, and equally beautiful is the refrain and Bowcott's masterful solos. "Liar" is a short but powerful piece, with the usual catchy chorus and the rhythm becoming more complex, while the riff of "Wrath Of The Ripper" is played in perfect Judas Priest style. In fact, this track is the fastest on the album and the influence of Halford & Co. is noteworthy in the powerful and devastating accelerations. The fifth track "Now Or Never" is short in duration but manages to keep the album at a high level, as does "Run For Your Life", an epic and masterful piece where Grim Reaper demonstrates all their ability and compositional technique. The penultimate song is the beautiful ballad "The Show Must Go On", equipped with a great guitar solo and Grimmett, with his excellent vocal skills, shows everyone that he is a singer up to the task, a test decisively passed in this album. A beautiful ballad, in full 80s style that has nothing to envy to the so-called "Power Ballads" of more renowned groups, like Poison, Cinderella, or W.A.S.P.

The album closes with power and anger with "All Hell Let Loose", where Grim Reaper, endowed with their irresistible refrains and great lead riffs, conclude this first effort in a perfect and convincing manner, making them greatly appreciated in the world of heavy metal. ROCK ON!!