Hellsongs

Last updated
Hellsongs
OriginSweden
Genres Indie pop, indie folk, lounge
Years active2004 –
Labels Tapete Records, Aporia Records, Minty Fresh, Lovely Records
MembersAnna Andersson
Maria-Terese Olsson
Petra Björnsdotter
Daniel Olsson
Kalle Karlsson
Past membersHarriet Ohlsson
Siri Bergnéhr
Johan Bringhed
My Engström-Renman
Website www.hellsongs.se

Hellsongs is a three piece acoustic band from Sweden who produce covers of famous hard rock and heavy metal songs in a very different style that they call 'lounge metal'. [1] That means old metal classics performed with clear female vocals, soft guitars and organ.

Contents

History

In 2004 the band was formed consisting of Harriet Ohlsson - lead vocals, Johan Bringhed - keyboard, vocals and Kalle - guitar, banjo and vocals. [2] In 2005, the Swedish national heavy metal radio show Rundgång on Sveriges Radio P3 featured Hellsongs playing a cover of Iron Maiden's "Run to the Hills" live. As Rundgång became a television show, it featured a live clip of the same act.

In 2006 the band released their debut EP "Lounge" which consists of six tracks of versions of old metal classics such as "Run to the Hills", "Jump" (originally by Van Halen) and "Orgasmatron" (originally by Motörhead). The EP got positive response and Hellsongs built a reputation as a live act in Scandinavia.

Their first full-length album, Hymns in the Key of 666 was released in early 2008 in the Nordic countries by the label Despotz Records. [2] The album hit the Swedish charts at 9 the first week. It was later released in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine, Greece, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

In 2009 Siri Bergnéhr replaced Ohlsson as the lead singer, [3] and the EP Pieces of Heaven, a Glimpse of Hell was issued. In 2010 a second album Minor Misdemeanors came out on Tapete Records and in May the band toured in Germany. [4]

On Nov 11, 2010, Siri Bergnéhr had a minor stroke, and the remainder of their tour dates were canceled. They played a farewell concert in their hometown of Göteborg on Mar 11, 2011, and do not plan to continue the band with the same members.

In early 2012 Hellsongs released the live recording from the show with the Göteborg Symphonics, "Long Live Lounge" and once again hit the roads, now with My Engström-Renman on vocals. The rest of the year was spent recording a new album which was released as "These are evil times..." in 2013. The album consists of five covers and for the first time in band history five original songs. Bandleader Kalle opened the band to a different musical approach by using drums, electric guitars and keyboards on that record. Autumn 2013 saw the band touring Europe with main focus on Germany. Hellsongs are planning further touring in European countries like Netherlands or Italy, which will lead to play some summer festivals in 2014. In 2013, Karlsson reported that songs for a new album are being written. It is likely to contain original material as well as some cover versions.

On the 15th September 2023 they released their first new single in almost a decade - a cover of “Killing in the Name” by Rage Against the Machine. [5] On October 25, 2024, they released their new album, The Return Of The Hellsingers [6] .

"Lounge" (2006) track listing

  1. Seek and Destroy (Original Artist: Metallica)
  2. Paranoid (Original Artist: Black Sabbath)
  3. Breaking the Law (Original Artist: Judas Priest)
  4. Run to the Hills (Original Artist: Iron Maiden)
  5. Jump (Original Artist: Van Halen)
  6. Orgasmatron (Original Artist: Motörhead)

Guest musicians

"Hymns in the Key of 666" (2008) track listing

  1. The Trooper (Original Artist: Iron Maiden)
  2. Symphony of Destruction (Original Artist: Megadeth)
  3. Rock the Night (Original Artist: Europe)
  4. Seasons in the Abyss (Original Artist: Slayer)
  5. We're Not Gonna Take It (Original Artist: Twisted Sister)
  6. Blackened (Original Artist: Metallica)
  7. Thunderstruck (Original Artist: AC/DC)
  8. Run to the Hills (Original Artist: Iron Maiden)
  9. Paranoid (Original Artist: Black Sabbath)
  10. Princess of the Night (Original Artist: Saxon)
  11. Jump (Original Artist: Van Halen) (UK Exclusive track)

"Pieces of Heaven, a Glimpse of Hell" (2009 EP) track listing

  1. War Pigs (Original Artist: Black Sabbath)
  2. The Evil That Men Do (Original Artist: Iron Maiden)
  3. Losers and Winners (Original Artist: Accept)
  4. Eagle Fly Free (Original Artist: Helloween)
  5. I Just Want You (Original Artist: Ozzy Osbourne)

"Minor Misdemeanors" (2010) track listing

  1. Skeletons of Society (Original Artist: Slayer)
  2. Heaven Can Wait (Original Artist: Iron Maiden)
  3. Welcome to the Jungle (Original Artist: Guns N' Roses)
  4. Walk (Original Artist: Pantera)
  5. I Wanna Be Somebody (Original Artist: W.A.S.P.)
  6. Rubicon Crossings
  7. School's Out (Original Artist: Alice Cooper)
  8. Sin City (Original Artist: AC/DC)
  9. Youth Gone Wild (Original Artist: Skid Row)
  10. United (Original Artist: Judas Priest)

"Long Live Lounge" (2012 live album) track listing

with members of the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra

  1. Seek & Destroy (Original Artist: Metallica)
  2. The Evil That Men Do (Original Artist: Iron Maiden)
  3. War Pigs (Original Artist: Black Sabbath)
  4. Heaven Can Wait (Original Artist: AC/DC)
  5. Sin City (Original Artist: Black Sabbath)
  6. Walk (Original Artist: Pantera)
  7. Youth Gone Wild (Original Artist: Skid Row)
  8. School's Out (Original Artist: Alice Cooper)
  9. Run To The Hills (Original Artist: Iron Maiden)
  10. Skeletons In Society (Original Artist: Slayer)
  11. 10.000 Lovers (In One) (Original Artist: TNT)
  12. I Just Want You (Original Artist: Ozzy Osbourne)
  13. We're Not Gonna Take It (Original Artist: Twisted Sister)

"These are Evil Times" (2013) track listing

  1. Iron Man (Original Artist: Black Sabbath)
  2. A Silence so loud (Original Artist: Hellsongs)
  3. Engel (Original Artist: Rammstein)
  4. Cold (Original Artist: At the Gates)
  5. Animal Army (Original Artist: Hellsongs)
  6. Eyemaster (Original Artist: Entombed)
  7. Equality (Original Artist: Hellsongs)
  8. Oh, Rosseau! (Original Artist: Hellsongs)
  9. Stand up & shout (Original Artist: Dio)
  10. Music took my Life (Original Artist: Hellsongs)

"The Return Of The Hellsingers" (2024) track listing

  1. Just Because You Got The Power (Original Artist: Motörhead)
  2. Use What You Got (Original Artist: Hellsongs)
  3. Basket Case (Original Artist: Green Day)
  4. Killing In The Name (Original Artist: Rage Against The Machine)
  5. Friends (Original Artist: Hellsongs)
  6. TNT (Original Artist: AC/DC)
  7. Rather Be Dead (Original Artist: Refused)
  8. Parental Advisory (Original Artist: Hellsongs)
  9. Calling Them Out (Original Artist: Hellsongs)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Sabbath</span> English rock band

Black Sabbath were an English rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler, and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. They are often cited as pioneers of heavy metal music. The band helped define the genre with their first three albums Black Sabbath, Paranoid, and Master of Reality (1971). Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the band underwent multiple line-up changes, with Iommi being the only constant member throughout its history.

Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the United Kingdom and United States. With roots in blues rock, psychedelic rock and acid rock, heavy metal bands developed a thick, monumental sound characterized by distorted guitars, extended guitar solos, emphatic beats and loudness.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Motörhead</span> English rock band (1975–2015)

Motörhead were an English rock band formed in London in 1975 by bassist and lead vocalist Lemmy Kilmister, guitarist Larry Wallis and drummer Lucas Fox. Lemmy was also the primary songwriter and only constant member. The band are often considered a precursor to the new wave of British heavy metal, which re-energised heavy metal in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Though several guitarists and drummers have played in Motörhead, most of their best-selling albums and singles feature drummer Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor and guitarist "Fast" Eddie Clarke. From 1995 until the band's break-up in 2015, the group consisted of Lemmy, guitarist Phil Campbell and drummer Mikkey Dee.

Speed metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that originated in the late 1970s from new wave of British heavy metal (NWOBHM) roots. It is described by AllMusic as "extremely fast, abrasive, and technically demanding" music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Budgie (band)</span> Welsh rock band

Budgie were a Welsh heavy metal band from Cardiff. The band formed in 1967, and recorded a demo the following year.

<i>Lightning to the Nations</i> 1980 studio album by Diamond Head

Lightning to the Nations is the debut album by British heavy metal band Diamond Head. The album was recorded in 1980 and released later that year through Happy Face Records, a label owned by the producer Muff Murfin of The Old Smithy studio of Worcester, due to lack of interest from major labels and the band feeling that they needed to get the ball rolling as other bands from the same era, such as Iron Maiden and Def Leppard, were already becoming big names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monsters of Rock</span> Former heavy metal music festival

Monsters of Rock was a hard rock and heavy metal music festival. It was originally held annually in Castle Donington, England, from 1980 to 1996, taking place every year except 1989 and 1993. It later branched into other locations such as the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Sweden, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, the United States, and Russia.

<i>Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles</i> Canadian heavy metal magazine

Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles (BW&BK) is a Canadian heavy metal website and former magazine. Although based in Toronto, Canada, BW&BK features writers from the US, Germany and the UK, allowing the magazine to represent metal music from an international prospective.

<i>Orgasmatron</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Motörhead

Orgasmatron is the seventh studio album by English rock band Motörhead, released in July 1986 by GWR Records, the band's first album with the label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Run to the Hills</span> 1982 single by Iron Maiden

"Run to the Hills" is a song by the English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. It was released as their sixth single and the first from the band's third studio album, The Number of the Beast (1982). It is their first single with Bruce Dickinson as vocalist. Credited solely to the band's bassist, Steve Harris, Dickinson contributed to the song but could not be credited due to a contractual agreement with his former band Samson. "Run to the Hills" remains one of the band's most popular songs, with VH1 ranking it No. 27 on their list of the 40 Greatest Metal Songs, No. 14 on their list of the Greatest Hard Rock Songs, and Rolling Stone ranking it No. 10 on their list of the 100 greatest heavy metal songs

<i>Metal: A Headbangers Journey</i> 2005 film by Sam Dunn

Metal: A Headbanger's Journey is a 2005 documentary film directed by Sam Dunn with Scot McFadyen and Jessica Wise. The film follows 31-year-old Dunn, a Canadian anthropologist, who has been a heavy metal fan since the age of 12. Dunn sets out across the world to uncover the various opinions on heavy metal music, including its origins, culture, controversy, and the reasons it is loved by so many people. The film made its debut at the 2005 Toronto International Film Festival, and was released as a two-disc special edition DVD in the US on 19 September 2006.

Ross William Halfin is a British rock music photographer. Since the late 1970s he has worked for some of the biggest acts in rock and heavy metal, including Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, The Who, Kiss, Metallica, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Van Halen, Def Leppard and many others.

This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 1981.

This is a timeline documenting the events of heavy metal in the year 1986.

Iron Horse is a bluegrass band from Killen, Alabama, US. They are known for performing and recording bluegrass cover versions of rock songs, particularly their bluegrass treatments of heavy metal songs popularized by Metallica. The band has two tracks on the tribute album Strummin' with the Devil: The Southern Side of Van Halen, which also features David Lee Roth, among other artists. They have recently been working on self-produced material and in October 2009 released an all-original Christmas project called "Small Town Christmas".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Van Canto</span> German power metal band

Van Canto is a German a cappella metal band, founded in 2006 and composed of six singers and a drummer. Although the group is often classified as an a cappella ensemble, they use real drums in their music, instead of vocal percussion or beatboxing.

The Top 500 Heavy Metal Songs of All Time is a book by Martin Popoff who is the editor in chief and writer of the Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles magazine as well as the senior editor of bravewords.com. He also wrote The Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time (2010).

The Classic Rock Roll of Honour was an annual awards program that ran from 2005 to 2016. The awards were founded by Classic Rock magazine. Winners of the awards were chosen by the awards team and voted on by readers of the magazine. Winners are announced at an annual awards show and featured in the magazine.

Bangladeshi heavy metal or Bangla heavy metal was originated from the evolution of British and American heavy metal bands of the 1980s. Bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica and Megadeth have had the greatest influences on Bangladeshi heavy metal musicians. Other 1970s bands to influence are bands like Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Motörhead. The first bands to play heavy metal in Bangladesh were bands like Warfaze and Rockstrata. The most prominent era for heavy metal movement was between the early 1990s to early 2000s. Warfaze, Rockstrata, Aces and in Dhaka are often considered as the "big four founders of heavy metal". Other 2000s metal bands are bands like Artcell, Aurthohin, Cryptic Fate, Powersurge, Mechanix, Metal Maze, Vibe and Stentorian. Alternative bands like Nemesis, Arbovirus and Black also played some alternative metal songs over the years. Warfaze, Artcell and Aurthohin together are the most popular rock/metal trio of Bangladesh.

References

  1. Kvarnstrom, Daniel (2008-02-10). "Hellsongs – Hymns in the Key of 666". www.getmetal.com. Retrieved 2010-11-29. (Google translation)
  2. 1 2 Quinn, Michael (2008-08-07). "BBC - Music - Review of Hellsongs - Hymns in the Key of 666". BBC Music. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  3. "Hellsongs – Warpigs". audioporncentral.com. 2010-01-11. Archived from the original on 2010-03-29. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  4. "Hellsongs: Hellsongs verlosen Gastauftritte für ihre 'Axis of Acoustic'-Tour - News". www.kulturnews.de. Retrieved 2010-11-29.
  5. "interview with Kalle". entertaim.net. 2013-11-26. Retrieved 2013-11-28.
  6. https://www.discogs.com/release/32107617-Hellsongs-The-Return-Of-The-Hellsingers