Tuck from Hell Thrashing
by Mark Allen
Staff Writer
When you name your debut album Thrashing and claim to be heavily influenced by Metallica, Slayer, Death Angel, and Testament, you’d best be able to deliver the goods or jeering mobs of heavy metal fans will send you scurrying for the hills with your tail tucked between your legs like pathetic posers. Well, you can put down the pitchfork and snuff out your torch, because this young up-and-coming band has definitely got what it takes to sate the metal masses.
The most obvious comparison is Metallica, partly because Tuck From Hell play Metallica-style metal, but also because vocalist Niklas Ingels sounds strikingly similar to James Hetfield. Not quite a dead ringer, but awfully close. Let’s put it this way: if Hetfield pulled a Kurt Cobain tomorrow and Metallica wished to keep the gravy train rolling, they could easily insert Ingels into the ranks and keep their overall sound intact.
But enough about Metallica; this is a Tuck From Hell review, right? So what does Tuck From Hell sound like? Well, uh…like Metallica. Mixed with a dash of Death Angel. And toss in some Testament. Yeah, yeah, don’t forget Testament. And a pinch of Pantera! What’s that? Slayer? Sure, why not? A smidgen of Slayer as well. As you can readily see—and will readily hear, should you do yourself a favor and pick up this album—Tuck From Hell bring absolutely nothing new to the heavy metal table. They freely acknowledge their goal was to write retro-thrash (they call it “thrash-n-roll”) with big, catchy choruses and that is exactly what they have done. This is old-school thrash throbbing with modern production values and some of the catchiest refrains you’re ever apt to hear from a thrash-metal band. Sure, they’re not the first group of guys to grab ‘80s thrash by its hoary old tail and drag it into the current decade, but few have done it as well.
Lyrically, Tuck From Hell steadfastly refuse to take things too seriously, sticking their tongue firmly in cheek on some songs (“Barbecue Beast” is all about being king of the grill, complete with a chorus that raves about “ripping the flesh from the cow”) and enthusiastically embracing heavy metal clichés on others (“King of Thrash” is about, well, exactly what it sounds like it’s about). The standout track is the raging anthem “Headbanger,” which is every bit as lyrically cliché as the title suggests—“Bang your f**king head and unleash the beast”—but is powered by a ruthless thrash-metal riff and hook-heavy chorus, complete with gang backup vocals (actually, the band utilizes gang vocals fairly frequently, and to excellent effect).
Musically, as mentioned above, the band is a conglomeration of their heavy metal heroes, and if things sound derivative at times, it is a delicious derivativeness. By no means is this a game-changer in the thrash-metal scene, but it is certainly a welcome addition to the ranks. What the band lacks in depth and substance they more than compensate for in the enjoyment factor, which is right through the roof. The guitars hammer away, the drums pound with fury and aggression, the bass lays down the thick bottom end, and none of the songs overstay their welcome. No introspective noodling (thought there are some flashy guitar solos), no boring, drawn-out instrumental interludes…the band comes, they kick ass, they get out of Dodge.
They’re called Tuck From Hell and they thrash like hell. ‘Nuff said.
Genre: Thrash metal
Band:
Nils Fredrick Johansson (drums)
Niklas “Tuck” Ingles (vocals)
Petrus Granar (guitar)
Marcus “Polo” Bengts (guitar)
Tomas Sonesson (bass)
Track Listing:
1. Barbecue Beast
2. Death Before Disco
3. Tuckerz
4. Italian Stallion
5. I’m Rollin’
6. I, Hellbilly
7. King of Thrash
8. Headbanger
9. Idol of God
10. Tequila Race
Metalville Records
Hardrock Haven rating: 8.4/10