HELL IN THE CLUB: "Let The Games Begin"

Rating: 8/10
Label: Avenue Of Allies 2011
Review by Alan Holloway

Apparently, you should never judge a book by it’s cover, although if the cover has Westlife anywhere on it you can be pretty sure it’s a shit book, so that’s bollocks then. I suppose the same goes for CD’s, and anyone put off by the name Hell In The Club and their rather misleading cover should take a few deep breaths and give them a chance, because incredibly “Let The Games Begin” is a sleaze/party rock album, and a good one at that.

I’m not any sort of expert on the Italian metal scene, but can tell you that Hell In The Club are the brainchild of Andrea Buratto, bassist in Secret Sphere, who roped in vocalist David Moras (also known as Damnagoras in Elvenking) and guitarist Adrea Piccardi, with drummer Federico Pennazzato completing the line up. Much like Brother Firetribe, this seems to be a bunch of musicians known for much more serious stuff getting together to make fun music and being rather good at it.

“Let The Games Begin” takes its cue from the likes of Motley Crue, Skid Row and even Danger Danger or Poison, throwing sleaze, metal and rock and roll into the same melting pot. The tracks are nicely upbeat, the solos fun and intricate, and Moras’ vocals suit the style perfectly. There’s a fantastically upbeat cover of Sam Cooke’s “Saturday Night” that seems to sum up what the band are about perfectly - just having a good time. Their own songs are all a pleasure to listen to as well, designed to make you tap your feet and smile. There’s even a decent power ballad, “Star”, and it all adds up to an album that, although not anything new, brings the old back in an entertaining way. Good time party sleaze from symphonic and folk metallers - who’d have thought it!

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