Los Angeles-based female-fronted metallers HELLION have inked a contract with London-based HNE/CHERRY RED RECORDS. The first of three HELLION albums set for release this year is a 2-disc anthology entitled TO HELLION AND BACK, which will be released on April 1, 2014, and the first 1,000 copies will be autographed by the band’s singer, ANN BOLEYN.
TO HELLION AND BACK chronicles the band’s beginnings from 1982, to the present, and features new music from Hellion. In 1983, when the term “female metal singer” did not exist, HELLION’s demo recordings (released as a self-titled Mini-LP) climbed to Number 6 in England’s rock charts. In America, HELLION however was regarded by the corporate music world as “too heavy” for a band with a female singer. Despite never releasing an album on a major record label, Hellion was the first female-fronted metal band to be featured on MTV and VH-1 and was also the first U.S. metal band to perform in the former-Soviet Union on a MONSTERS OF ROCK festival.
TO HELLION AND BACK features a collection of fan-favourites, hard-to-find recordings, and previously unreleased tracks. Among the collection are also two songs that were produced by RONNIE JAMES DIO at the legendary SOUND CITY recording studio.
The musicians enlisted by powerhouse vocalist Ann Boleyn for the new HELLION include drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, QUEENSRŸCHE, DIO, DIO DISCIPLES), keyboardist Scott Warren (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL), Swedish import bassist Bjorn Englen (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, DIO DISCIPLES), and up-and-coming lead guitarist Maxxxwell Carlisle.
HELLION’s new tracks were produced by legendary British studio icon Ken Scott, who has produced iconic albums, including DAVID BOWIE’s “Hunky Dory”, “The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars”, “Aladdin Sane” and “Pinups”. A top producer at Abbey Road Studios, Scott is also acknowledged as one of the five principal engineers for THE BEATLES. He has engineered countless classic works, including GEORGE HARRISON’s “All Things Must Pass”, ELTON JOHN’s “Madman Across The Water”, “Honky Chateau” and “Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only The Piano Player.” Other credits include gold and platinum albums by SUPERTRAMP, DAVID BOWIE, MISSING PERSONS, KANSAS, and more. Scott recently said of the comparison between working with David Bowie and Ann Boleyn: “Working with Bowie or working with Ann of HELLION, you’ve got sheer talent.” Acknowledging Boleyn as the driving force propelling the band, Scott notes: “Over the years, the musicians have changed. The one musician that has always been the same is Ann. So once again, it’s new musicians. The one constant thing about HELLION is Ann, and her incredible voice.”
Says Wright of working with Boleyn and HELLION: “She’s tried to stay true to that heaviness and a certain darkness. She’s sticking to the same formula, just different musicians though.”
HELLION will tour in Europe, and the UK in 2014 and are expected to appear on a number of major festivals. The cover artwork was designed by Italian artist Gaetano Di Falco and inspired by the photography of P.G. Brunelli.
TRACK LISTING
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DISC ONE 1. Backstabber 2. Driving Hard 3. Don’t Take No For An Answer 4. Break The Spell 5. Up From The Depths 6. Run For Your Life 7. Get Ready 8. Witching Hour 9. Screams In The Night 10. Upside Down Guitar Solo/ 11. The Hand 12. Bad Attitude 13. Tower Of Air |
DISC TWO 1. Nevermore 2. Exciter 3. The Evil One 4. Breakdown 5. The Black Book 6. Living In Hell 7. Stormrider 8. Demon Attack 9. Resurrection/Will Not Go Quietly 10. Shit (Is Gonna Hit The Fan) 11. Dead and Gone 12. Dream Deceiver 13. Hell Has No Fury |
The TO HELLION AND BACK CD will be available through The Omega Order for pre order, by visiting here:
http://www.theomegaorder.com/hellion
To view HELLION’s video blog, visit here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGIUpBo7ZzE&feature=youtu.be
Left to right: Maxxxwell Carlisle (guitar), Simon Wright (drums), Bjorn Englen (bass), and Ann Boleyn (vocals). Not pictured Scott Warren (keyboards).
