The Hellacopters

The Profile

The Hellacopters are a Swedish rock band formed in Stockholm in 1994 by Nicke Andersson, shifting from Entombed’s drums to lead vocals/guitar. Initially a turbocharged garage-punk outfit, they evolved toward classic hard rock. They disbanded in 2008, reunited in 2016, and released Eyes of Oblivion in 2022.

Led by Nicke Andersson; early lineup included Dregen and bassist Kenny Håkansson. Influences frequently cited: MC5, The Stooges, Kiss, Motörhead. Keyboardist credited as ‘Boba Fett’ appears on recordings. Part of the 1990s Scandinavian rock revival; later work noted for cleaner production. Eyes of Oblivion released via Nuclear Blast.

DeBaser’s reviews chart The Hellacopters from the feral garage-punk of their early years to a cleaner, hard-rock sheen. Debut-era blasts earn raves; mid-period albums get praise with caveats about polish. Eyes of Oblivion draws sharp criticism for sterile production. Across the board: Detroit bloodline influences, swagger, and speed.