HELLSPRAY – Bring On The War (CD)

Swedish heavy melodic rockers released their first album Full Moon In Plainfield in 2008. The debut featured former Renegade singer Magnus Tallåker, who was soon replaced by the more rough-edged Anders Moberg. Anders made his debut on the 2011 release Part Of The Solution. On Bring On The War the band has brought up the heaviness factor a few steps. The new CD opens with the title track, which to me felt a bit heavier than the band really is. I was slightly disappointed. However, Song For The Deaf put things back into place. Still very heavy, but more melodic and it didn’t feel strained. Shine Like The Sun takes it yet another step in the right direction. It actually reminded me a bit of Dirt-era Alice In Chains, but with a more positive view on life. This good, really good! Anders is a powerful singer and he fits the style perfectly. Great, tight and powerful mix. Well done!

Janne Stark

Year: 2015

Country: Sweden

Label: Self-released

HELLSPRAY - Part Of The Solution (CD)

Jönköping’s Hellspray released their debut a couple of years ago, a really great melodic rocker. They are now back, armed to the teeth and with a new singer. Anders Moberg is more of a gritty rocker, which fits the bands down and dirty hard rock in a perfect way. At times he reminds me of Zakk Wylde, but with more finesse and a wider vocal range. There are some similarities with Black Label Society when it comes to opener Spinesless as well, but like with the vocals, there’s the variety and dynamics I sometimes miss in BLS. The adopt a pretty doomy aura in some tracks, such as Count Your Blessings, where the intro feels like the soundtrack to a nightmare. They however add a melodic feel which changes the picture as it moves on. In Mr Hyde the scene is totally different, almost moving into some high speed power metal territory with a neo-classical touch to the riffing. Interesting. Part Of The Solution is a really great follow-up to the debut, showing a band that has indeed taken their style and sound a step further. This is some heavy shit, man!
Janne Stark
Year: 2011
Label: Perris
Country: Sweden
Link: http://www.hellspray.com/