The Hellacopters: Overdriver
LP | CD | DL
4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Out Now
The Hellacopters return with their eighth full album of authentic materials, Overdriver! The massively prolific Swedes are again – they usually’re kickin’ ass and takin’ names. Sean Millard is in a spin over their newest assortment of full-blown Rock ‘n’ Roll.
When was the final time you heard a brand new ROCK report? I’ve capitalised it. For emphasis, and to precisely handle your expectations, as a result of regardless of the phrases of the intro, I might argue with myself that the ROLL is redundant – Overdriver is purer than that. It’s not as classic sounding, as a ROLL would counsel. It’s not veering in direction of Steel, both. It’s Punk in perspective however not in articulation. It’s obtained Storage vitality, however it’s far too polished and crafted to be dismissed as charmingly amateurish. Its influences are Basic and worn proudly, however it’s not bloated, misogynist or trite. It’s not dumb. It’s particular.
There are Lizzy twin guitars, Kiss rhythm riffs, Chilton-esque harmonies and, in locations, even the junky honky-tonks of The Stones. However the magic of The Hellacopters is that they take these ‘retro’ influences and form them into one thing distinctive to them – one thing totally up to date and thrilling.
So – when was the final time you heard a brand new ROCK report?
Musical savant Nicke Andersson has been on a quest to create the right ROCK report since he left Entombed to focus full-time on The Hellacopters in 1994. His ramshackle firm of misfits, gathered from a cluster of Scandinavian roadies and glamsters, have succeeded many occasions at perfection. And though their catalogue has highs and lows, I’d argue they’ve by no means launched a shitty report – and Overdriver could be the excessive level of the band’s previous couple of albums.
Nicke’s an itchy soul, however he all the time delivers the products. The Entombed LPs he drums on are the band’s finest. Lucifer have overtaken themselves since he joined them on drums, bass and second guitar in 2017. Try his pop-rock band Union State Electrical. They soar. Demise Breath is his still-active self-deprecating Demise Steel band. The Answer is the automobile for his Soul adventures. It’s protected to say Nicke is a musical fidget – however what worthwhile fidgeting it’s.
The Hellacopters cut up amicably in 2008 to permit all their members to spend extra time on their different initiatives. They got here again collectively in 2016 and returned to turntables with Eyes of Oblivion in 2022. On the way in which they received awards, gained enormous audiences, particularly in Scandinavia, and earned a repute for creating world class Punk ‘N’ Roll. Constantly.
And now Overdriver.
To be clear from the beginning, they’ve achieved it once more. Overdriver doesn’t have a duff monitor on it, however it IS a departure – particularly from their earlier work. It’s not as uncooked or instantaneous, reactive or punching. All these issues have all the time made The Hellacopters ace. However simply because Overdriver doesn’t sound like Supershitty To The Max doesn’t imply it’s… erm… supershitty. Removed from it: the place as soon as the enjoyment was discovered lurking within the tough edges of spontaneity, now it’s sat, daring as brass, straddling its personal ego, within the craft and perfection of among the finest writing the band has ever dedicated to tape.
It makes for a richer, extra partaking report. Extra than simply addictive celebration hits in tribute to Rock and Roll Itself, Overdriver appears inwards in addition to upward. It’s jubilantly confessional, defiantly damaged and celebrates its personal dysfunctionality. It picks on the scabs of fading relationships, home maturity and the endurance of life – and flicks them into a giant sanitary disposal bin of big choruses, impossibly harmonious solos and sumptuous drum patterns.
What I discover so cool about Overdriver is that it has a pumping coronary heart that’s uncovered in each music, for higher or worse. The sincerity of the lyrical journey attracts you in as a listener, simply as a lot because the ingenious riffing. That’s new for The Hellacopters. Not that their lyrics are normally weak in any respect – they simply really feel extra thought-about on Overdriver. And the recording is richer – it feels so fucking analogue it may very well be an abacus. It’s thick and creamy, just like the neck pickup of a ’70s Les Paul. It’s a tactile sound. The whole lot has house. There’s readability with out sanitisation. If it was edible, it wouldn’t be good to your arteries.
Overdriver by The Hellacopters
The opening salvo of Token Apology, Don’t Let Me Deliver You Down and album spotlight, (I Don’t Wanna Be) Simply A Reminiscence, climb to a peak that provides you probably the most superior emotional indigestion:
“I don’t wanna be only a reminiscence, I don’t wanna be simply your reminiscence. However a reminiscence’s all we will be, oh no – Only a reminiscence.”
Been there, achieved that. Common truths all the time minimize to the short a lot extra deeply. The music is fab, in that timeless, craving, lovely approach that has resonated with us all at one time or one other. It seems like this music is the explanation we take heed to information. It’s a kind of songs you lastly handle to catch in your web that justifies the countless seek for perfection that we Vinyl Lepidopterists all have interaction in. Nostalgic, certain. However the craftsmanship is excellent.
Fallacious Face On is excessive vitality, blistering punk and roll. And, in true Hellacopters type, you’re singing the refrain such as you’ve recognized it all of your life earlier than the run-out groove is even faintly in sight on the primary play by. The wobbly Psyche of Soldier On recollects classic Magnum – once more, I insist, no dangerous factor – though it took me a few goes to actually get behind it. Belief me – it turns into a contender. It simply wants a number of listens. Facet One attracts to an in depth on a excessive with the alliterating Doomsday Daydreams, which recollects among the finest moments on Eyes of Oblivion.
However we’re not given time to recuperate from our sew. Deep breaths. Facet Two kicks off with the riff monster one-two that’s Faraway Appears to be like and Coming Down. The latter of which is a Muscle Shoals-style traditional in ready, with a nagging, harmonising refrain to rival one of the best that Skynyrd might supply, full with a mega guitar solo and low string bar finish descents. The album’s second preview monitor, Do You Really feel Regular (the primary was I Don’t Wanna Be A Reminiscence) is like Massive Star on (Ass) steroids. The guitar choosing. The vocal harmonising. The important thing modifications. The glowing rush of the lyric strains. It’s an unimaginable music.
BUT it’d disappoint for those who come to the LP with ‘typical’ Hellacopters in thoughts. It’s considerably totally different for them – which finally ends up being the explanation I ended up adoring it. So, open your thoughts and dispel your preconceptions. In any other case, you would possibly miss out on a corker of an earworm and the golden line:
“Are you able to relate or would you’re taking offense. In case your future’s her previous tense?”
It’s adopted by The Stench – one other left-field monitor for the band – it’s the slowest music on the LP – however it could be the lyrical excessive of the final word break up music:
“It’s the identical dialog we had yesterday. The identical conditions we all the time replay. However the stench right here ain’t going away”
It’s obtained a waltzing sway that quickly turns into addictive and valuable. The album ends on Depart A Mark. Longer than the opposite tracks on the album. It’s a robust music to complete on, however maybe tellingly, marginally weaker than the others on the album. I discovered it a bit forgettable in comparison with the remainder of the LP – which units such a high-quality bar. For anybody else, the music can be enormous. Right here, it falls into final place in additional methods than one. If they’d ended the LP with Keep With Me – a real-life single from Could final 12 months that was ASTONISHING – and backed with an immaculate cowl of The Treatment’s Fireplace In Cairo, in addition – the album would have been an ideal ten.
With Overdriver, The Hellacopters have achieved the unthinkable – veered away from their consolation zone – each for them and their followers, in some methods – however it’s an act of derring-do that pays dividends. Whereas I play the opposite LPs of their catalogue when a particular temper raises its horned hand, this newest album feels extra like it will likely be on a relentless rotation, no matter whimsy. And that’s what makes it a traditional – in contrast to their different albums, Overdriver’s not nearly vitality – it’s about what occurs when that vitality burns away – what you’re left with and what you do with it. It’s a deeper minimize. Mine’s a restricted Apricot colored vinyl copy. It’s fairly. I’ve streamed it and performed the report. The distinction is critical. The Superb Format actually fits the report’s vibe.
Now all they should do is play the UK provinces and dig down on reissuing their again catalogue. You received’t imagine what their information price on Discogs. However till they do both if these issues, bask within the glory of Overdriver and let it ROCK you to your bones. It’s immense.
Hallelujah! And lengthy reside the ‘Copters
All phrases by Sean Millard
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