Yes, it's true: Rock And Roll Will Never Die!!!
Ken | Youngsville, LA USA | 12/16/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Things sure have changed in the Hellacopter camp in the years after their phenomenal debut in 1994. It's pretty much universally agreed upon that the turning point was "Grande Rock", when Nick and company started dropping the "garage-punk" feel of being generally underproduced studio-wise. But let's be realistic, part of the magic of the debut was the raw urgency that they portrayed in those short, noisy blasts of brilliance. So, even though it took a few years, they have turned a full 180 with "High Visibility" - their most produced and professional album to date. In fact, this hardly sounds like the same band that they once were. But before I keep making comparisons to give you the impression that this isn't worth your time, let me say this: despite the differences between "then and now" over the course of their extremely inspired and prolific career, "High Visibility" is still an awesome album in its own right.
Continuing Nick's mission of channeling the vibes of the 1970's into what could be appropriately called "High Energy Rock", this record is full of rock music that's better than any classic rock I've ever heard. They've moved on from the buzzsaw power chords of the MC5, The Stooges, and the Dead Boys; instead, think of The Who, Lynyrd Skykyrd, the Rolling Stones, even more KISS, and so on and so forth, mixed in with the aforementioned early proto-punk godfathers. Get the picture? And considering the slightly altered direction they've taken, Nick sure does seem to have a more appropriate singing voice than the throat-scratch wailing of Dregen... even though that was so perfectly suited on their early releases.
Something else of a strange twist is the fact that "High Visibility" is the first Hellacopters album on a major label - and judging by its success in their native Sweden, it won't be their last, either. But before you scream "sell-out" from atop your soapbox, just keep in mind that the entire album was written and recorded prior to their knowledge of even being asked to be on a major. There's no loss of drive and hunger from these Rock Gods gone big league. While most bands would suffer from changing their sound and moving onto bigger avenues of success, these `copters are still just as driven to play flat-out no nonsense Rock-n-Roll. Thankfully, this is still a band fiercely dedicated to what they do and how they do it - no compromise, no matter how big they've gotten. On top of that, these boys are still as down to earth and as far from pretentious as you can get. For once it's cool to have a group worthy of being "Rock Gods" while not having the all-too-nauseating "Rock God Ego Syndrome".
No less than three songs were released from this album as singles in their homeland, and all three were good enough to deserve being thrust into the charts there. The first two singles, "Hopeless Case Of A Kid In Denial" and "Toys And Flavours" are catchy, wailing rock-n-roll numbers that are EASILY two of the best tracks that the band has ever pinned. What many have come to many fans as a complete shocker - or perhaps we all knew it was coming? - was the inclusion of a ballad, "No Song Unheard", also released as a single. In fact, "No One's Gonna Do It For You" carries the same sort of mellow vibe, so there are definitely signs that the boys are moving into dynamic territory. No matter though - The Hellacopters write ballads just like they write everything else - oozing with infectious and vital Rock (capital R included, buddy - and don't you forget it), ready to be considered classic right from the get-go.
The world needs more Rock bands like the Hellacopters, quite honestly. I know that there's a ton of decent rock-n-roll to be found when you look toward the underground circuit, but The Hellacopters aren't ashamed to get huge doing it. "High Visibility" was yet another excellent record proving that Rock will always have a vital place in the world, and that the old adage is proven true - Rock-N-Roll Will Never Die."
YEAH
stabface | [chellmsford], MA | 01/27/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is in fact no 'Supershitty to the Max'or 'Payin' the Dues'.I suppose you could consider it a more matured 'Grande Rock'.The songs are not as fuzzy and furious as '...to the Max', and they are not as fast as 'Payin' the Dues'. It has been stripped and rebuilt and then polished over 100 times. It is the same Hellacopters that released all of those venom spitting albums, but this one is a little more laid back and alot more wiser."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1