Hell is the fourth studio album by Salem, Oregon, doom metal project Hell. It was released on August 11, 2017, as a limited cassette by the label Sentient Ruin Laboratories[1] and as a digital download by Hell's own label, LowerYourHead.[2] Hell received critical acclaim from the few publications that covered it. On April 22, 2018, Hell performed Hell in its entirety at Roadburn Festival.[3]
| Hell | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
_cover.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | August 11, 2017 | |||
| Recorded | 2014–2017 | |||
| Studio | The Burial Grounds | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 49:52 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Producer | M.S.W. | |||
| Hell chronology | ||||
| ||||
The songs "SubOdin" and "Inscriptus" first appeared on Hell's 2015 EP, also called Hell.[4]
Background and composition edit
After Hell's trilogy of self-titled albums concluded in 2012 with Hell III, frontman M.S.W. considered discontinuing the project. About the change of heart, he said, "I was going to change the name of the project, thinking that a better name would suit the new sound more, but now I’m thinking I’ll keep the name and see how that goes."[4]
Hell is a doom metal album and, as such, is driven by slow, downtuned guitar riffs. The reviewer Shakeel Cox-Henry noted that the vocal styles on the album are "very much alien" to traditional doom metal, describing them as abrasive, tortured and atonal.[5] Operatic singing is incorporated on the introductory track, "Seelenos", by Karli Mcnutt. Cox-Henry wrote that, in addition to the unusual vocals, the songs are structured unconventionally, lacking predictable progression and varying often in tempo.[5]
Another uncommon feature of Hell is its use of samples. The album's opening track, "Seelenos", contains quotes from the works of Emily Dickinson.[2] The next track, "Helmzmen", has the Mayday call of a doomed ship that sank in the Gulf of Alaska.[6][7] The song "Wandering Soul" contains a sample that the US military used in a psychological weapon project against the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War.[2]
Critical reception edit
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metal Injection | Very favorable[6] |
| Midlands Metalheads |   [5] |
Hell received highly positive reviews. Writing for Metal Injection, Cody Davis said, "[Hell's] entirety results in what can only be described as one of the most enthralling albums to come out in 2017 and a strong album of the year candidate."[6] Shakeel Cox-Henry of Midlands Metalheads wrote, "This album is strong, consistent, and most importantly, uses its resources to create an atmosphere of dereliction and suffering that only Hell could create."[5] Invisible Oranges said, "For an album so pummeling, there is a hint of sincerity hidden beneath its dense brawn."[8] Hell appeared as number 14 on Stereogum's 2017 year-end best metal albums list; Ian Chainey in that publication called the album's execution "top-notch" and repeatedly praised its riffs.[9]
Accolade edit
| Year | Publication | Country | Accolade | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Stereogum | United States | "The Best Metal Albums of 2017" | 14 | [9] |
Track listing edit
All songs written by M.S.W.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Seelenos" | 4:20 |
| 2. | "Helmzmen" | 9:35 |
| 3. | "SubOdin" | 7:30 |
| 4. | "Machitikos" | 5:38 |
| 5. | "Wandering Soul" | 5:09 |
| 6. | "Inscriptus" | 5:01 |
| 7. | "Victus" | 12:36 |
| Total length: | 49:52 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Helmzmen" | 9:35 |
| 2. | "SubOdin" | 7:30 |
| 3. | "Machitikos" | 5:38 |
| 4. | "Wandering Soul" | 5:09 |
| 5. | "Inscriptus" | 5:01 |
| 6. | "Victus" | 12:36 |
| 7. | "Seelenos" | 4:20 |
| Total length: | 49:52 | |
Personnel edit
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Hell
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Additional musicians
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Technical personnel
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References edit
- ^ Hell (cassette liner notes). Hell. Sentient Ruin Laboratories. 2017. SRUIN053. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b c Kelly, Kim. "HELL's Apocalyptic Doom Will Outlive Us All". Vice. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ^ Handelman, Ben. "Hell to perform their S/T album in full at Roadburn 2018". Roadburn Festival. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ^ a b A., Ben (7 April 2016). "Falling from Your Heavens: A Conversation with M.S.W. of Hell". Black Metal & Brews. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2018.
- ^ a b c d Cox-Henry, Shakeel. "Review: Hell (M.S.W) – Hell". Midlands Metalheads. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ^ a b c Davis, Cody. "Funeral Doom Friday: HELL's Latest Self-Titled Album is More Terrifying than Literal Hell". Metal Injection. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
- ^ Bellino, Vince. "Track Premiere: Hell – 'Helmzmen'". Decibel. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- ^ Cory, Ian (2 August 2017). "Hell – "Victus" (Song Premiere)". Invisible Oranges. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ^ a b Moore, Doug. "The Best Metal Albums of 2017". Stereogum. Retrieved 29 December 2017.