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HYSTERICA
www.hysterica.se
Hysterica are a Swedish 5-piece all girl band formed in early 2005 and their debut release ‘Metalwar’ is a thoroughly enjoyable and instantly likeable slice of traditional metal featuring tight musicianship and a strong production from Peter Tägtgren (Pain and Hypocrisy). Their sound can best be described as a cross between UK all female band Rock Goddess, Girlschool and Manowar. The opening track ‘We Are The Undertakers’, which is built around a strong chunky, heavy riff and features some impressive vocal hooks, sets the tone for most of the album. Taking the qualities from the first track, ‘Halloween’ is quite awesome and shows off a catchier, more commercial and melodic feel than most of the tracks featured on ‘Metalwar’. This song, as much as any, provides proof that vocalist Anni De Vil has an impressively clear and powerful voice. The rest of the album, particularly ‘Bless The Beast’, ‘Girls Made Of Heavy Metal’, ‘Metalwar’, ‘The Bitch Is Back’ and ‘Heavy Metal Man’ follow the same formula as the lead track. The latter features another stunning and memorable chorus. Closing track ‘Pain In The Ass’ is an absolute belter, possessing a galloping rhythm, stunning guitar leads and more great vocal lines. ‘Metalwar’ turns out to be one of the cheesiest albums you are likely to hear but to me this is part of its charm and one of its greatest strengths. The lyrics featured are consistently dumb but lines such as "girls on tour, here to break the law, bring your sword, to the metal war" on the title track, raised a smile on my face and suggest that Hysterica have got a great sense of humour. However, fans of challenging or technically stimulating rock or metal may not agree with me and will almost certainly cringe in disbelief on hearing this album. The one main criticism I have of ‘Metalwar’ is that it suffers from treading a similar path throughout but, to its credit, it consistently delivers the air punching, fist clenching and foot stomping metal, which bands could quite happily get away with back in the early 1980s. I can wholeheartedly recommend this album to any fan of Manowar, Saxon, the more straightforward rocking side of Judas Priest as well as the likes of Rock Goddess and Girlschool.
LABEL:
FORMAT:
CRoNG Records
Album
METALWAR
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Review by Dave Crewe
RUNNING TIME:
40:04
RELEASE DATE:
26th June 2009
TRACK LISTING
1) We Are the Undertakers
2) Halloween
3) Bless the Beast
4) Girls Made of Heavy Metal
5) Louder
6) Metalwar
7) Wreck of Society
8) The Bitch is Back
9) Devil In Me
10) Heavy Metal Man
11) Pain in the Ass
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:
Sweden
"The one main criticism I have of ‘Metalwar’ is that it suffers from treading a similar path throughout but, to its credit, it consistently delivers the air punching, fist clenching and foot stomping metal, which bands could quite happily get away with back in the early 1980s."