The Hellacopters
Supershitty To The Max!

THE REVIEW

I am normally against labeling music, because the only classification I think is right to make is between what is enjoyable and what is boring. Having said that, I realize that it's often necessary, because if you're talking about a record, you need to give those who buy records an indication that immediately lets them know what you're talking about. With the necessary differences and distances between artists that can be found in various genres, if you write R'n'R, you immediately frame the record in a musical context, which may interest the reader or not, the same goes for Country, Blues, or Punk.

The Swedish band Hellacopters made their debut in '96 with a striking record, Punk in terms of the violent orientation given to the music, but a work that departs from the general lines of the genre, largely recalling Hard Rock, mostly akin to the style of groups like AC/DC and Motorhead. The compositions are more carefully constructed and arranged than what we are used to hearing from Punk groups tied to a more synthetic, essential idea of what music should be, such as the excellent Germs or Minor Threat. After all, Punk has never been an armored musical genre, its history is a continuous evolution; antithetic groups in the writing of their compositions have been compared because they had a similar approach to music, but also to life, Black Flag and Clash are further examples of this.

Supershitty To The Max! launches Hellacopters among the most significant representatives not only of the Scandinavian scene but worldwide. Everything works in the album, from the "melodies" to the engaging riffs of the drummer Nicke Andersson who became a singer and lead guitarist, whose credo is: "Only write what gives you yourself the sense of Rock, and get the shit out, before it cools down". The CD opens with "(Gotta Get Some Action) Now!" a piece of metallic energy, paving the way for other fine compositions like "Fire Fire Fire", "Born Broke" "Bore Me ", and "Tab". A solid work marked by the scorching guitar of the leader, harsh and angry, the sound gives no respite, much less should you expect relaxing music to play for your grandmother. All told, a record full of indications for a future laden with expectations and credibility in Hellacopters, credibility and expectations that the group has not disappointed, but rather consolidated in the subsequent "Payin' The Dues". One of the Punk Bands whose name is destined to grow over time, indispensable for fans of raw Rock, which will not disappoint fans of the Stooges, MC5, Dead Boys, and Punk Rockers in general.