HANK VON HELL – album review of the new album “DEAD” #hankvonhell

Artist – Hank Von Hell
Album – DEAD
Release Date – June 15, 2020
Label – Columbia / Sony Music Entertainment
Website – https://www.hankvonhell.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HankVonHellOfficial/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/HankvonH
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/hankvonh/
Official Store – USA – https://rebellionrepublic.com/products/brands/hank-von-hell/
Europe – https://eu.kingsroadmerch.com/hank-von-hell/
Produced by – Tom Dalgerty – Oscar Nilsson – Kristopher Strandberg
**the song “Radio Show” was produced by Cone McCalsin & Dave Bashki – both from the band Sum41 who also co-wrote the song with Hank
Review by – John Erigo

In August of 2019 in an ultimate fanboy moment, I sat alone on a tour bus with Hank Von Hell. I have been a fan for a long time and I finally had a chance to meet him and interview him for this website Kick Ass Forever. After the interview concluded Hank took out his cellphone and asked me if I wanted to hear some new songs. Well HELL YEAH I do!!! Hank played me the songs “Blackened Eyes” and “Disco”.  What an awesome moment, I got a special, private, preview of the album DEAD. So now all this time later, the album has been released and I can dive into it and let you all know about it.

I had asked Hank how he was feeling at the top of the interview and he said he was dead, but only on the inside. LOL! Well after listening to the new album DEAD, Hank has never been more alive. The 2 songs I mentioned before really set the tone for what I can only describe as an EPIC album! Hank’s first comeback solo album EGOMANIA was more of a party album to say “Hey, yeah I am still here!!” and this album has taken Hank to a new level. A slightly serious tone to some of the album, but damn it is SO rockin’! I liken it to when KISS teamed up with Bob Ezrin for the “Destroyer” album. Taking a raw talent and adding elements not really there before to give dynamics and well, epicness, to the songs. Whereas EGOMANIA was a very straight forward rock album, DEAD has those same elements with a splash of accents.

What exactly do I mean? take the song “Crown” for example……..

With some great guest vocals from THUNDERMOTHER vocalist Guernica Mancini, and an amazing catchy chorus, this song takes Hank in a new direction without too much compromise. The production team and songwriting team that Hank has included here (Hank co-wrote every song on the album) have created a more epic sound for Hank. These songs have a lot going on in the background. Like I mentioned before, then. dynamics, backing vocals, and more just make this album just what the World of rock n roll needed!!!

Another good example is the song “DISCO”

This song has some great double meaning lyrics, very clever and crafty songwriting. For those that don’t know, the word “disco” is slang for cocaine. So when Hank sings about “line after line” and “there’s a man out in the snow”, NOW you all know what he is talking about!!! I love this song, the completely infectious chorus is so damn catchy, this song is great!!! Hank is a brave artist for taking steps outside his normal box, as so damn good!!!

I mentioned before Hank had played me “Blackened Eyes” and I gotta tell you, if you were into Hank’s former band Turbonegro, I can compare this song to F.T.W. – again, the epic sound in the production. Let me also mention that Hank’s vocals have never been better – he is singing his dead inside ass off! LOL!

 

Hank also enlists 2 of his friends from the band SUM41 – Cone McCaskin & Dave Baksh on the song “Radio Show”. The SUM41 boys co-wrote the song with hank, and the duo produced the song too. It’s a punchy, punk rock-ish type of song. The song has a nice anthemic kind of feel to it too, catchy song. I am telling you there isn’t a weak tune on this album, Hank has REALLY delivered a gem here.

I also really am into the songs “Dead” and “Danger! Danger!” –

let me also squeeze in credit to the band for this album –

Guitars – Jones kelly II – Kristofer Strandberg – David Wilhelmsson
Bass – Jean Genus
Drums – Oscar Nilsson

Great execution and playing, well written and strongly crafted songs, outrageous production – this album is nothing short of stellar and larger than life, for a guy that is self proclaimed himself as DEAD LOL! I am in “Velvet Hell” and just can’t enough of this album, and I hope you all get a chance to experience this album too. Thank you Hank for doing what you promised when you proclaimed yourself “Emperor of the World” on your last tour, thank you for saving rock n roll with the album DEAD!!!!