Hellcrawler - Wastelands

Hellcrawler, the post-apocalyptic Death 'n Roll 5-piece from Slovenia, released their debut record a year ago on Hollow Earth Records and I'm just now hearing about it??

There is a little something for everyone on this album - assuming everyone enjoys Entombed, Amebix or Dark Throne.  Hellcrawler is fast and catchy as well as raw and abrasive.  Together with D-beating drums, the guitars chug along headbanger riffs while the singer chokes out an allegory of the apocalypse.  After all, the record I have is fittingly called Wastelands.

"Hellcrawler are a bunch of cynical wasteland denizens who found unsavory panacea in the symbiosis of punk violence and heavy riffage."  That - taken from the band's bio - about sums it up.

Now, I've read a couple reviews about these guys on the inter-webs and everyone is saying that they are Sludge or Stoner..  Well, I'd like to clarify that there is nothing "sludgy" or "stoner" about this band.  Labels like that are stupid, anyway.

A few tracks that stand out are 'Rattlesnake Tavern,' 'Yet Again the Greed of Man' and, off the name alone, 'Motosluts From Hell.'  'Rattlesnake' covers a lot of melodic ground and incorporates some interesting tones.  The music retains a Crusty base, but goes way beyond as the record navigates the broader Metal spectrum.  Hellcrawler are good songwriters.

Wastelands is loud, heavy and interesting.  Refreshingly, it's fast the whole way through.  A lot of bands are slowing down these days.  Why?  Anyway, I can only speculate how a live Hellcrawler set would be..  Probably a bunch of pissed-off Slovenian kids rocking out.

Take a minute and check the link below..You won't be disappointed.  Go to www.hellcrawler.com to learn more about the band.

--Bones



Comments