CoC : Various - Hellion Promo Vol II : Review

Various - _Hellion Promo Vol II_
(Hellion Records, 2001)
by: Alvin Wee (6 out of 10)

Hellion Records, arguably Europe's flagship power metal store, unleashes part two of their not-for-sale promotional CDs, distributed among their loyal customers and fans. Always a good taster for the goings-on in the often inaccessible European power-prog scene, this one was welcomed as it marked the return of three '80s legends: Tresspass, Culprit and Q5 (now Nightshade). Not Fragile blast open the proceedings with promisingly blazing leads, but never go beyond the simple-mindedness of pre-_Keepers_ Helloween or early Grave Digger. Still, as a debut, _21st Century Ballroom_ promises to be a solid slab of old-school Teutonic steel. Fellow debutants K Octave disappoint with their brand of downright obsolete US metal. "Breakneck" might have come straight out of those delete-bins of the eighties and you wouldn't be the wiser. Former melodic-rock geniuses Q5 have never quite recovered from their slump after the one amazing debut record, and despite upping the volume a little on "This Thing Kicks", remain firmly lodged as purveyors of solid-yet-unimpressive NWOBHM-style rock. Anyone who remembers bona-fide NWOBHM classics like "One of These Days" will salivate at the mere mention of Trespass; taken off their _The Works II_ collection, "Man and Machine" is another irrefutable stamp of quality for a band that doesn't quite need it. Culprit finish off this five-tracker with an energetic blast, being a stunner from the re-release of their semi-classic _Guilty as Charged_ album. Chock full of hooks and heart-pounding rhythm, this is traditional metal at its best, but nothing new to those already savvy to eighties metal. Not more than a 6 for the variable quality on this disc, but makes for a good all-in-one review of the albums available on the Hellion label.

Contact: http://www.hellionrecords.de

(article published 14/1/2002)

ALBUMS
12/29/2010	C Drishner	8	Various - Tribute to H.P. Lovecraft - Gate 1: Yogsothery - Chaosmogonic Rituals of Fear
12/14/2010	N Shahpazov	8.5	Various - Whom the Moon a Nightsong Sings
4/2/2010	Q Kalis		Various - Rising of Yog-Sothoth: Tribute to Thergothon
1/8/2009	C Drishner		Various - Anthrosphere Volume 1
9/17/2008	P Azevedo	7.5	Various - My Own Wolf: A New Approach to Ulver
8/9/2008	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Metal Message IV
6/22/2008	Q Kalis	8	Various - ...Where Tattered Clouds Are Stranding
6/17/2008	Q Kalis	5.5	Various - Extreme Metal Inside
6/13/2008	Q Kalis	8	Various - Might Is Right: Nordic Warchants II
6/11/2008	Q Kalis	4.5	Various - Bajo el Signo de la Violencia: Tribute to Masacre
10/7/2007	Q Kalis	7	Various - Rise of the Eastern Blood
7/24/2007	Q Kalis	8	Various - Might Is Right - Nordic Warchants Pt. I
7/4/2007	Q Kalis	7	Various - Aural Holograms Vol. I
4/20/2007	Q Kalis	8.5	Various - Noise.IL
4/15/2007	Q Kalis		Various - Fine-Tuned Disasters
4/5/2007	Q Kalis		Various - Defaced and Split
3/25/2007	Q Kalis	8	Various - Fuck the Modern World
3/8/2007	J Ulrey	7.5	Various - Intoxicated Vol. 4
2/24/2007	K Sarampalis	7	Various - Metal Message Vol III
1/28/2007	Q Kalis	8.5	Various - A Reassuring Voice on the Television
1/9/2007	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Hauautagused Karjed Vol. II: Estonian Extreme Metal Compilation
12/26/2006	Q Kalis	8	Various - All My Dead Friends
11/7/2005	N Shahpazov	7	Various - The Wood Brothers
1/10/2005	T DePalma	7.5	Various - Listen Without Distraction - A Tribute to Kyuss
10/19/2004	P Azevedo	7	Various - Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal
1/17/2004	A McKay	3.5	Various - Defenders of Metal Volume 1 - The Seduction
11/16/2003	X Hoose	7	Various - Japanese Assault
8/31/2003	J Montague	8	Various - Barbaric Onslaught (Australian Metal Attack)
5/29/2003	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Victory Through Total Domination: Compilation No. III
5/27/2003	A Wee	7	Various - The Obsolete View
4/5/2003	P Azevedo	8	Various - Better Undead Than Alive
3/31/2003	P Azevedo	7.5	Various - Svartmetall Compilation 2001
3/26/2003	X Hoose	4	Various - Covered in Blood: A Tribute to Slayer
4/12/2002	B Meloon	6	Various - Czech Assault
4/12/2002	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - The Bells of the Mystical Empire
1/14/2002	A McKay	7	Various - Colorado Colossus
10/19/2001	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Beauty in Darkness 5
8/12/2001	A McKay	2	Various - Brazilian Assault
8/12/2001	V Eldefors	7	Various - Triarchy of Vasconia
8/12/2001	A Wee	9	Various - Black Metal Blitzkrieg
5/13/2001	A Wee	8	Various - The Return of Darkness and Hate
5/13/2001	A McKay	8	Various - Requiems of Revulsion: A Tribute to Carcass
3/13/2001	A McKay	4	Various - Chamber Metal: Neo-Classical Metal Guitar
3/13/2001	A McKay	6.5	Various - Overload 2: Tribute to Metallica
1/10/2001	A McKay	6.5	Various - Scream Forth Blasphemy: A Tribute to Morbid Angel
11/20/2000	A McKay	2	Various - Dead Zeppelin - A Metal Tribute to Led Zeppelin
11/20/2000	A McKay	6.5	Various - In the Sign of the Horns - A Tribute to Venom
11/20/2000	G Sanchez	7	Various - Economi$ed
11/20/2000	G Sanchez	8	Various - Coalescence
10/25/2000	A McKay	6	Various - Gateway to Hell 2: Tribute to Slayer
10/25/2000	A McKay	7	Various - King Diamond Tribute
10/25/2000	A Cantwell	7.5	Various - World of Pain -- A Tribute to Sepultura
10/25/2000	A Cantwell	7.5	Various - Jump in the Pit -- A Tribute to Testament
10/25/2000	A McKay	9.5	Various - Root of All Evil 2000 2nd Anniversary Sampler
8/12/2000	A McKay	5	Various - Raise the Flag of Hate: A Tribute to Kreator
8/12/2000	A McKay	8	Various - Curse of the Demon: A Tribute to Mercyful Fate
5/25/2000	A Bromley	3	Various - Power From the North
5/25/2000	A Bromley	7.5	Various - Panther: A Tribute to Pantera
3/5/2000	A Bromley	8.5	Various - Holy Dio: Tribute to Ronnie James Dio
1/15/2000	M Noll	2	Various - A Tribute to Accept
1/15/2000	P Azevedo	8	Various - To Magic...
12/9/1999	P Schwarz	8	Various - 21st Century Media Blitz Vol. 2
12/9/1999	A Bromley	8.5	Various - Never Give In: A Tribute to Bad Brains
8/12/1999	A McKay	3	Various - A Tribute to Hell: Satanic Rites
8/12/1999	P Schwarz	3	Various - ECW Extreme Music
8/12/1999	G Sanchez	6	Various - Lobot Manual
8/12/1999	G Sanchez	7.5	Various - Needlepoint
8/12/1999	A McKay	9	Various - White: Nightmares in the End
7/7/1999	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Death... Is Just the Beginning 5
6/15/1999	P Azevedo	5	Various - Psyclone Sinphonies
6/15/1999	A Wasylyk	6.5	Various - Beauty in Darkness Vol. 3
6/15/1999	A McKay	8.5	Various - Smells Like Team Spirit III
5/19/1999	G Sanchez	6.5	Various - Extreme America 3
5/19/1999	A McKay	7	Various - Straight to Hell -- A Tribute to Slayer
5/19/1999	G Sanchez	7.5	Various - Freak Animal Zine #11 CD
5/19/1999	P Azevedo	8	Various - Where We Go, Others Can Only Follow...
5/19/1999	A Cantwell	8.5	Various - Chords of the Grave
5/19/1999	A McKay	8.5	Various - To Live Is Ever to Be in Danger
3/14/1999	A Bromley	7	Various - Black Mark Tribute II
3/14/1999	A McKay	7	Various - In Conspiracy With Satan
3/14/1999	G Sanchez	8	Various - WWF - The Music Vol. 3
2/13/1999	A Cantwell	8.5	Various - Full Moon Productions Sampler CD
1/16/1999	P Schwarz	5	Various - Roadkill
1/16/1999	P Schwarz	7	Various - Feuersturm Vol. II: The Ultimate Storm
1/16/1999	P Schwarz	8	Various - Wardance
1/16/1999	A Cantwell	8	Various - From Kaamos to Midnight Sun -- Finnish Metal Compilation
11/19/1998	A Bromley	8	Various - GRRRR!!: Extreme Music From Vancouver
10/1/1998	P Schwarz	7	Various - Cry Now, Cry Later -- Vols. 3 & 4
10/1/1998	A Cantwell	7	Various - Songs From the Penalty Box: Volume 2
10/1/1998	P Schwarz	8	Various - Amduscias
9/1/1998	P Azevedo	6	Various - High Radiation 4
9/1/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Call on the Dark II
9/1/1998	B Meloon	7	Various - Bestial Sampler: 1997-1998
9/1/1998	A Wasylyk	8	Various - Fiesta Comes Alive!
9/1/1998	P Schwarz	9	Various - Statements of Intent
7/8/1998	A Wasylyk	6	Various - Blackened III
7/8/1998	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Statements of Intent
7/8/1998	A Wasylyk	8	Various - Sepultural Feast: A Tribute to Sepultura
6/7/1998	P Azevedo		Various - Peaceville X
6/7/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Call To Irons: A Tribute to Iron Maiden
6/7/1998	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Voyager: 10 Years Nuclear Blast
6/7/1998	B Meloon	8	Various - Until the End of Time
1/1/1998	A Wasylyk	5	Various - A Declaration of Independence
1/1/1998	A Gaudrault	7	Various - Masters of Misery - Black Sabbath: The Earache Tribute
1/1/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Untitled (ten)
11/17/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - Earache Unplugged 2
7/14/1997	A Wasylyk	3	Various - The Kanada Compilation
7/14/1997	Z Tsarfin	7	Various - Awakenings: Females in Extreme Music
7/14/1997	A Bromley	9	Various - A Black Mark Tribute
6/7/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - The Ozz-Fest: Live
5/13/1997	P Azevedo	8	Various - Out of the Dark Live Compilation
5/13/1997	S Hoeltzel	9	Various - World Domination II
2/5/1997	A Bromley	5	Various - Frozen Dawn III
2/5/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - The Absolute Supper
1/2/1997	A Wasylyk	9	Various - Beneath the Icy Floe: A Projekt Sampler V.4
8/12/1996	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Black Mark Attack
8/12/1996	G Filicetti	9	Various - ...And Even Wolves Hid Their Teeth
7/17/1996	A Bromley	9	Various - Beauty In Darkness
6/9/1996	S Hoeltzel	7	Various - Nordic Metal: A Tribute to Euronymous
4/18/1996	N Bassett	7	Various - In Memory of Celtic Frost
3/14/1996	A Bromley	7	Various - Identity II
3/14/1996	N Bassett	8	Various - With Us Or Against Us
1/17/1996	G Filicetti	9	Various - Four Ways To Misery