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!!
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 See You in Hell (04:18)
SEE YOU IN HELL
See you in hell!!!
can i make you an offer
you can't refuse
i kept my eyes on you
cause i tell you that you lose
and you can come with me
to a place you'll know so well
and i will take you
to the very gates of hell
CHORUS
See you in hell my friend
See you in hell my friend
See you in hell my friend
I'll see you in hell!!!
Your choice's up then
how many sins can be yours
at my kingdom final choice
is yours!
you can take it
any time that you need
next thing I'll borrow
all you've got to do is bleed
Interlude:
Come with me, i will take you down
to the very depths of your soul
and i'll make you burn!!!
See you...see you in hell!!!
See you...see you in hell!!!
See you in hell!!!
can i make you an offer
you can't refuse
i kept my eyes on you
cause i tell you that you lose
and you can come with me
to a place you'll know so well
like i told you
at the very gates of hell
02 Dead on Arrival (04:32)
I'll tell you a tale, of someone I know
Now he's gone, there's nothing to show
Made the headlines, for that one time
The burst of shadow, and on it's way it died.
Dead on Arrival, there's no hope in hell
Dead on Arrival, how can they tell
Dead on Arrival, ain't it a shame
Dead on Arrival, we'll never be the same
Live your life to the full, never see shame,
Speeding on that motor, when your inside a game,
Dead in an instant, watch out real good,
Bleeding everything, ain't gonna look good.
Dead on Arrival, there's no hope in hell
Dead on Arrival, how can they tell
Dead on Arrival, ain't it a shame
Dead on Arrival, we'll never be the same
Dead on Arrival, D.O.A.
Dead on Arrival, there's no hope in hell
Dead on Arrival, how can they tell
Dead on Arrival, ain't it a shame
Dead on Arrival, we'll never be the same
So I pick up the paper, read it once more
I turn all white again, I guess I was making sure
So in tears it lies, I look to the skies
I'm standing at the grave site, to say my last good-byes.
Dead on Arrival, there's no hope in hell
Dead on Arrival, how can they tell
Dead on Arrival, ain't it a shame
Dead on Arrival, we'll never be the same
Dead on Arrival, there's no hope in hell
Dead on Arrival, how can they tell
Dead on Arrival, ain't it a shame
Dead on Arrival, D.O.A.
03 Liar (02:47)
Liar, Liar, Liar, Liar
I'd never thought I'd find a woman like her
Who could satisfy my needs
She got just about everything
Satisfaction guaranteed
Then one day I hear from my friends
You've been cheatin' behind my back
All the times you said your gonna make it
Just to keep me off the track
Then one day she finally broke the news
She decided to tell me straight
Could I take her back, could I forgive
But I told her it's too late
Liar, Liar, Liar, Liar
Thought she was perfection in every way
She was one to please
Then things changed, anyone could tell
It was there plain to see
Then one day I hear from my friends
You've been cheatin' behind my back
All the times you said your gonna make it
Just to keep me off the track
Then one day she finally broke the news
She decided to tell me straight
Could I take her back, could I forgive
But I told her it's too late
LIAR!!!!
04 Wrath of the Ripper (03:14)
Wrath Of The Ripper
Take me down alleys where the murders are done,
They hide in doorways when the Ripper's on the run,
The smell of death lingers on in the air,
A maiden is struck and no one seems to care.
When the Ripper's on the run,
His wrath of evil will come to sun,
Got the madness in him again,
Till he's dead it won't be the same.
With broken blade he slips back into the night,
For some woman who will never see daylight,
With precision and lust he moves in for the kill,
Taking a life with all his surgeon's skill.
When the ripper's on the run,
His wrath of evil will come to sun,
Got the madness in him again,
Till he's dead it won't be the same.
Take me down alleys where the murders are done,
They hide in doorways when the Ripper's on the run,
The smell of death lingers on in the air,
A maiden is struck and no one seems to care.
When the Ripper's on the run,
His wrath of evil will come to sun,
Got the madness in him again,
Till he's dead it won't be the same.
06 Run for Your Life (03:40)
I see them coming over mountains,
Marching in line,
Children playing by the fountains,
Gods of war making time,
See the swords glisten in sunshine,
When they come to an end,
Alright all of our kin folk,
We will have to defend.
Run, run for your life, their coming now
Run, run for your life, their coming over
Run, run for your life, their coming now
Run, run for your life, RUN!!
And now they've got us surrounded,
From the hills to the trees,
This time they'vegot us surrounded,
We're like glades in the breeze,
Get all the women and children.
To hide underground,
Don't move, don't even count,
And don't make a sound.
Run, run for your life, their coming now
Run, run for your life, their coming over
Run, run for your life, their coming now
Run, run for your life, RUN!!
Dragons are slaying, and the people are praying
Hoping it will come to an end,
The sword and the flame, the reflection of pain
And no time to stand and defend,
Steel crossing steel, thrashing wheel,
Now with the power and might,
We know it's alright, stand and unite,
This time we're ready to fight.
And now the battle is over,
Count the cost,
Move the dead, clean up the debris,
So we see what we've lost,
Get all the women and children,
From underground,
Thank God they never moved,
and dared make a sound.
Run, run for your life, their coming now
Run, run for your life, their coming over
Run, run for your life, their coming now
Run, run for your life, RUN!!
Run, run, run for your life,
Run, run, run, run for your life
Run, run, run, RUN!!!!
07 The Show Must Go On (07:25)
Up and down the boulevard,
I go walking in the night,
Memories of times gone by,
Ain't no way to put it right,
You tell me that you're lonely girl,
You say I was wrong,
Baby that was yesterday,
Now yesterday's gone.
Hold back the tears honey, just hold back the pain
Remember the years darling, remember my name
And love is a game honey, that none of us won
I just walk away now, the show must go on.
Yesterday's gone, the show must gone
I guess I was wrong.
The good times that we shared together,
Making love by candlelight,
Then we went through stormy weather,
And I guess we lost the fight,
So write another lover's song,
And drink some more wine,
Cause when the rain starts falling down,
The sun always shines.
Hold back the tears honey, just hold back the pain
Remember the years darling, remember my name
And love is a game honey, that none of us won
I just walk away now, the show must go on.
Yesterday's gone; the show must go on
I guess I was wrong.
Up and down the boulevard,
I go walking in the night,
Say goodbye to yesterday,
And leave it behind,
So once more we feel in darkly,
Kiss me again,
Darkly again my baby,
Cause this is the end.
Hold back the tears honey, just hold back the pain
Remember the years darling, remember my name
And love is a game honey, that none of us won
I just walk away now, the show must go on.
Yesterday's gone, say goodbye to yesterday,
So once more we feel it darkly, kiss me again.
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