Hellsongs
“Hymns In The Key Of 666”
(Despot Records)

Revenge of the hippies! 10 ultra mellow, acoustic flower power versions of some of metal’s classics like ‘Run To The Hills’, ‘We’re Not Gonna Take It’ and ‘Thunderstruck’. Vocalist Harriet Ohlsson gives Joni Mitchell a run for her money with her excellent soft voice that removes the darkness and anger of Slayer’s ‘Seasons In The Abyss’ and instead paints a vision of pastel blue skies, flower meadows, dancing children and mooing cows. Pisstake? Well, more alternate as what Hellsongs have done is not just cover these classics but reinterpret them and rearrange them with added flutes, violins and pianos so I’m not actually sure if this is more disturbing as it works, even on the more challenging tracks i.e. ‘Paranoid’ where Iommi’s great chugging riff is instead foiled with a quiet yet sombre piano! Very different but very bold especially in recreating and applying that 60s Haight sound so go spread the love baby.

-Shan Siva