No Life Til Metal - CD Gallery

1. Break The Spell (4:08)

2. Don't Take No (For An Answer) (4:21)

3. Backstabber (3:35)
SIDE B

4. Lookin' For A Good Time (3:12)

5. Driving Hard (3:52)

6. Up From The Depths (5:25)

Debut vinyl 12" single from Hellion released on UK label Music For Nations. The EP was originally recorded as the band's four song demo tape which they duplicated and sold themselves. They later pressed it to vinyl on their own Bongus Loadus Records. After attracting label attention from Music for Nations two additional tracks were recorded and the album was released in Europe. ("Backstabber", "Fire", "Up from the Depths" and "Break the Spell" are the original four songs.) All six songs are fierce, pure heavy metal. Female-fronted heavy metal bands tend to get instantly labeled as glam metal or pop metal. That is certainly not the case with Hellion. This is heavy metal that would rival any of the early 80's heavy metal bands coming out of the U.S. or England.

1. "Screams in the Night" (3:54)
2. "Bad Attitude" (5:10)
3. "Better Off Dead" (4:34)
4. "Upside Down Guitar Solo" [instrumental] (1:09)
5. "The Hand" (4:08)
6. "Explode" (3:21)
7. "Easy Action" (3:34)
8. "Put the Hammer Down" (4:22)
9. "Stick 'em" [instrumental] (:47)
10. "Children of the Night" (3:48)
11. "The Tower of Air" (4:39)

Hellion are one of the few bands from the 1980's that featured a female vocalist whose music wasn't wimpy, glossy, pop metal. Yes, I know that Doro and Wendy O fans might disagree, but Wendy's solo stuff wasn't nearly as metalic as Hellion and even Doro's Warlock weren't as heavy and dark as Hellion. "Screams in the Night" is headbanging, fist pumping, heavy metal. The songwriting features a ton of sing along choruses and guitar playing that echoes Randy Rhoads. (I've read that guitarist Chet Thompson was a student of Rhoads and can certainly believe it from hearing this.) The only song that even hints at commercialism is "Easy Action". This song actually could have been a hit for a more well known band, but as it stands is a great heavy metal anthem. My favorite track is probably album closer "The Tower of Air". The galloping riffs, slow plodding pace and dark feel reminds me of something Rainbow might have recorded with Dio on "Rainbow Rising". Other standout cuts are the title track, "Put the Hammer Down" and "Bad Attitude".

This CD was nearly impossible to find for years but was finally re-issued in an autographed (by Ann Boleyn), numbered, limited edition from New Renaissance in 1999. My copy is 329. One thing to note about this CD is that all 11 tracks present on the vinyl version released back in 1987 even though only nine songs are listed on the track listing. The 2 tracks not listed in the content are "Upside Down Guitar Solo" (between "Better Off Dead" and "The Hand") and "Stick 'em" (between "Put The Hammer Down" and "Children Of The Night"). Unfortunately the new CD does not sound like it has been remastered.

Hellion ‎– Postcards From The Asylum (Music for the Nations) 1988

SIDE ONE
1. Nevermore! (3:53)

2. The Evil One (7:11)

SIDE TWO
3. Exciter (5:41)

4. Run For Your Life (4:28)

Heavy little four song EP from Ann Boleyn and Co. Their sound here is a combination of traditional heavy metal and speed metal, sometimes bordering on thrash. The band's cover of Judas Priest's "Exciter"is fantastic. Boleyn screams like a banshee. The vinyl EP was also released in the U.S. on New Renaissance Records. It was never officially released on CD in the form but the songs were used as part of the 1998 "Up From the Depths" compilation.

Hellion - The Black Book (Restless) 1991

1. "Breakdown" (:29)
2. "The Black Book" (5:36)
3. "Storm Rider" (7:23)
4. "Living in Hell" (5:02)
5. "The Discovery" (:11)
6. "Losing Control" (4:10)
7. "Arrest... Jail... Bail" (1:12)
8. "Demon Attack" (4:17)
9. "Conspiracy" (:32)
10. "Amnesia" (4:59)
11. "The Warning" (3:27)
12. "The Room Behind the Door" (:29)
13. "The Atonement" (6:37)

Bought this CD off ebay in the original long box. On the box in big bold letters it states "Real Metal, Not Corporate Hard Rock Crap." That is certainly an understatment. I'm not sure how I missed it all these years. It's unfortunate that metal bands with female vocalists are generally dismissed because not only does she do an awesome job of singing on this disc, but "The Black Book" is among the most under-rated heavy metal albums ever. Other than the Spinal Tap-ish album cover, this album is pretty much flawless. The guitar work is excellent, the production seemless but heavy, and the songwriting keeps your attention without being overtly commercial or poppy. "The Black Book" is a concept album based around a novel written by vocalist Ann Boleyn, although I don't find the story line anywhere near as interesting as the music itself. I can't really say enough good things about this disc. If REAL heavy metal is your game, then hunt down a copy of this disc. It'll be worth your time and investment.

1. "Nightmares in Daylight" (4:08)
2. "Backstabber" (3:37)
3. "Fire" (4:43)
4. "Up From the Depths" (5:29)
5. "Break the Spell" (4:11)
6. "Nevermore" (3:57)
7. "Evil One" (7:10)
8. "Exciter" (5:46)
9. "Run for Your Life" (4:27)

A numbered, limited-edition compilation CD of rare Hellion tracks. My copy is # 1091/3000. Includes a smokin' cover of Judas Priest's "Exciter". Track 1: from the homonymous Hellion/Bitch split-single, Tracks 2-5: from the self-titled Mini-LP (4-song version), Tracks 6-9: from the Postcard From the Asylum EP (which I also have on vinyl). Overall, just some solid, classic, L.A. heavy metal with screaming vocals from vocalist Ann Boleyn. The booklet contains a fairly detailed biography of the band as well as some vintage photos.

1. Run For Your Life" (5:04)
2. "Nothing to Say" (5:06)
3. "Never More" (4:18)
4. "Don't Take No For An Answer" (4:21)
5. "Driving Hard (For You)" (3:56)
6. "Get Ready" (5:15)
7. "Backstabber" (6:13)

Limited edition live EP from Hellion. Unfortunately this CD is equivalent to a bootleg, although it is an officially released CD from Anne's own New Renaissance Records. The recording is not of a professional quality, although it's not totally unlistenable either. It sounds like an audience recording and indeed was taken from a VHS video. The show was recorded live at the Country Club in California on Dec.22, 1984. On a positive note, the band's performance on this night was excellent. They were tight and sounded like a band that had been touring together for months. Also, there are a few songs here that never made it to a Hellion record. These might have made nice bonus tracks on a re- release of the first 6-song EP. The insert includes lyrics, photos and a length bio pertaining to the disc. Unfortunately even the insert comes off as 'bootleg-ish" with several obvious typos. "Cold Night in Hell" is a collector's disc for die-hard Hellion fans, but not much else.

1. "Break The Spell" (4:09)
2. "Driving Hard" (3:53)
3. "Don't Take No For An Answer" (4:24)
4. "Run For Your Life" (4:27)
5. "The Witching Hour" (7:50)
6. "Screams In The Night" (3:54)
7. "Bad Attitude" (5:10)
8. "Exciter" (5:46)
9. "Breakdown" (:29)
10. "The Black Book" (5:36)
11. "Stormrider" (7:23)
12. "Dead And Gone" (5:53)

Hellion are a traditional metal band that features the outstanding Ann Boleyn on vocals. Unlike many other female fronted 'metal' bands, Hellion remained a true heavy metal band. "Queen of Hell" is a decent career retrospective/anthology of Hellion with songs listed in chronological order. The first edition of this CD is numbered and autographed. My copy is #843. New Renaissance seems to specialize in these limited edition/numbered releases. My favorite material here are the two songs from "The Black Book" (Tracks 10 & 11) and the amazingly strong cover of Judas Priest's "Exciter". The CD finishes off with a song that is said to be a demo from an upcoming album, which was the 2003 album "Will Not Go Quietly. It is a great classic metal song.

1. Will Not Go Quietly / Resurrection 05:59)
2. Welcome (To My Humble Home) 05:13)
3. Revenge (Is Sweet) 05:23)
4. The Last Straw 05:46)
5. Wildest Dreams 05:43)
6. Dead And Gone 05:56)
7. Dream Deceiver" (6:33)
8. Shit" (4:55)
9. Duchess Of Debauchery" (4:37)
10. User 7" (6:35)
11. See You In Hell" (6:26)

On "Will No Go Quietly", Ann Boleyn and company deliver an album that is dark, moody and melodic, traditional heavy metal. Much like "Black Book" I found this album to be almost spell binding. The songs draw you in within a listen or two and really just hold my interest for the entirety of the album. Ann's vicious, biting vocals are both emotional, yet without sounding sugary sweet or like the current crop of psuedo-goth, girls fronting metal bands. There is nothing psuedo about this album. This is real heavy metal. Hellion don't seem concerned with following any trends, choosing instead to fly their heavy metal banner high. It's not until "User 7" that this disc even slows down. From tracks 1 through 9, Hellion offer what amounts to fist clenching, head banging, heavy metal. With "User 7" the band slips into an odd power ballad that sounds almost like a mixture of stripper music and the blues. The album finishes off with a number that could have easily been on "Screams in the Night". The song titles sounds a bit cliché, reminding me of Grim Reaper, but the lyrics actually seem to be about emotionally separating from someone that has caused deep pain. The song itself is heavy, melodic and quite enjoyable, especially for those of us who long for the classic 80's metal sound.