The Hellacopters

The Hellacopters: By The Grace of GodBy The Grace of God (2004)
Liquor and Poker

Reviewer Rating: 2.5

User Rating:

Contributed by: elliotelliot
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Published on October 8th 2004The Hellacopters are finally starting to get a good amount of recognition in the United States. In their native country of Sweden, they're already rock stars. Albums like Grande Rock and High Visibility have helped to establish them as monsters of rock. But after a lot of hard work and touring th.

The Hellacopters are finally starting to get a good amount of recognition in the United States. In their native country of Sweden, they're already rock stars. Albums like Grande Rock and High Visibility have helped to establish them as monsters of rock. But after a lot of hard work and touring the states, attention from the American music press is finally starting to come their way, all for their new album.

And here's the problem with that: By the Grace of God is easily their worst album yet.

However, the Hellacopters' worst album, when compared to many other bands in this genre, holds up pretty well. There are some very strong songs, with all the intensity and rockin' that they've been known for. "The Exorcist" sounds the most like the expected Hellacopters formula, with but with some dissonant chord changes and a galloping tempo. "Carry Me Home", apparently the lead-off single, has very much of a 70's, Thin Lizzy feel to it. And in a rare moment of creativity, "It's Good But It Just Ain't Right" busts into an Isaac Hayes funk breakdown.

If only they could keep such interesting ideas going throughout the whole album. Way too many of these songs sound like throwaways from High Visibility. "All New Low", "Rainy Days Revisited", and the title track come dangerously close to being boring. The Hellacopters should know better than to write songs that don't go anywhere and that don't accurately capture the rock that they've been laying down for the last few years.

It's possible that they've gotten too comfortable in their position. They may think that they can write average songs and that people will love whatever they do. But The Hellacopters do not play a style of music that allows for slacking. As long as The Hellacopters are going to be a band, they need to buckle down and remember how they wrote such gems as "Hopeless Case of a Kid In Denial", or "Baby Borderline." And if they don't still have the rock'n'roll in them, then they should call it quits, instead of making an achingly average album like By the Grace of God.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (March 16, 2006)

Great 70's style rocking punk. Some people like their punk faster, but go see them live, they might change your mind ( they are touring the US this month).

Anonymous (November 24, 2005)

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Anonymous (April 12, 2005)

high visibility is better but btgog is such a great album

Anonymous (February 6, 2005)

This is possible the greatest rocl'nroll album ever released. (high visibility is the socond!) Eliot, you have no idea what you are talking about!!

Anonymous (February 6, 2005)

This is possible the greatest rocl'nroll album ever released. (high visibility is the socond!) Eliot, you have no idea what you are talking about!!

Anonymous (October 15, 2004)

Yeah, what's up? Lately I've been seeing reviews for this record, but it's been out for a long time now.

Personally, I think this is one of the best albums the Hellacopters have put out.

Anonymous (October 14, 2004)

this is a good rock record...it's a little more polished than what I would want from the 'copters, but nice nonetheless

payin' the dues is still the best album of theirs to me, hands down

-notaclevername

Anonymous (October 11, 2004)

this album was amazing when it came out like 2 years ago and its still good

Anonymous (October 9, 2004)

Ps am I the only fucking one who knows that the title track was "the leadoff single" when it was released by Universal in North America a year ago? Anybody see the video? Elliot you apparently don't know what your talking about. You shouldn't have done this review. Clueless cunt

Barkley

Anonymous (October 9, 2004)

ELLIOT YOUR A FUCKING CLUELESS FUCK! i've had this disc in my player for the last year and it is far beyond your trite lilttle review. Fuck you, this one is for the copters'

Barkley

Anonymous (October 8, 2004)

the album "perspective" by the band by the grace of god is really good. y'know, FYI.

Anonymous (October 8, 2004)

score is for "supershitty to the max", their only really great album. someone should review gluecifer if this band is gonna get reviewed. i think gluecifer's way better. the score's for gluecifer, too.

mykindofmurder (October 8, 2004)

score is for the cover art.