Band : Hell City
Album title : Here Comes The Sin
Label : /
Distributor : Hellcity
Release date : September 2009
Release : MCD

This Limburg based Belgian band came into existence during Summer 2007. Drummer-without-a-drum Tommy Goffin had been in a Death Metal band before. Guitarist Niels Coch was a Hetfield wannabe without a band. The two met at several occasions at their favourite hangout place in Bilzen, got to talking, and decided to start a band together under the monicker of The Dark End. After the purchase of a drum kit and several jam sessions between the two of ‘em, they went a-hunting for additional bandmembers.

One Jimmy Christiaens (of The Whocares) somehow ended up handling the bass, and Vincent Noben was asked to play lead guitar (joined in January 2008)…but (unable to combine two bands) Jimmy left in May, and the guys eventually found a new 4-stringer in Ward Achten in November of that year. His audition was short: the 3 others started an Iron Maiden classic, and he flawlessly joined in. All along while looking ffor a new bassist, the guys had also auditioned singers, and quite a few passed. From blown-dry glitter shriekers (immediately dismissed) to monster voices (dismissed because of not fitting egotistically), it was eventually Wouter Vandenrul who fit in best. Soon after his joining in January 2009, the band started working on their material, recording 5 songs for their debut demo in April…and doin’ their debut gig late that same month in a local bar (also playing that night: The Whocares…prooving there was no bad blood between Jimmy and the Hell City guys).

In their own description, the band play a mixture of Metal with Southern Rock (a-ha…that explains their reference to down-tuned guitars in the biography at the point when Vincent joined the band), and that’s probably the best way to look at it. So there IS a Thrashy side to things, somewhat enhanced by the recording quality – which ain’t fantastic, but what can one expect from a beginning band, eh? The mixing ain’t exactly perfect either, the drums coming to the fore, with all other instruments…ànd the singer…pushed to the back? Nay, in essence the band’s slightly progressive Heavy Metal ain’t bad at all, and I’m sure it all sounds a lot better in live conditions (where one can usually hear the bass a lot  better as well – I mean, what’s the use of having a bass wizz in your outfit and not letting people héar him?). As a singer, there’s possible better around than Wouter, but he does a nice job nevertheless.

End conclusion? These guys need to be able to record in a decent studio, with the assistance of a good recording engineer, one who knows how to bring out the best of every element in HC’s music! For a taster, check out the 3 songs posted at myspace.com/hellcityonline.

83/100

Tony.