Search - Rock Goddess :: Hell Hath No Fury

The best female metal album of the 80's, ...and beyond.

Scott "Dr. Music" Itter | Naperville, Illinois United States | 06/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a record I purchased back in 1983 or 1984. I took my fat fifteen-year-old self into the local record store, and just looked for everything that looked METAL. Although I love Miles Davis, Jim Croce, and James Taylor, my true love has always been Hard Rock/Metal music. So I come across this record with 3, count 'em, 3 hot metal chicks on the cover. "Hell Hath No Fury" screamed the title across the top. These chicks looked pissed off and heavy...consider it done. I plopped down my $5 and change and ran home(got on the bus,...whatever).

When I got home I got a bowl of ice cream and fired up the stereo. When I put this record on, my room lit up. I got goose bumps during certain tracks. I felt like I hit the jackpot. Now I bought a lot of records, most of them from bands I'd never heard of. And, usually I never wanted to hear from them again. I just took my chances because I didn't want to miss anything. And this record still makes me thankful I took those chances.

I recently upgraded my adolescent purchase to CD. I was shocked to find that anything was still available and that other people were thrilled by this band also.

This is a record recorded by a three piece English outfit with a 9 year old drummer,...and they're all girls. In thier native England they reached #84 on the Billboard charts, but had no charting power here in the States. Thier previous record charted even higher in England(#64), but that also failed to chart here in the U.S. Both were released on A&M Records.

This is a powerful display of raw talent. These girls can play, and play they do. The lyrics can get a little simple and not have much to say sometimes, but the energy and emotion that's dished out is tremendous. The passion and strength in the lead vocal is fantastic. Along the lines of Ann Wilson's intensity, but not quite THAT good. It's sort of like saying Mother Teresa is nice, but she's not quite God. With production duties going to Chris Tsangarides, the sound is also top notch. From the title track popping out of the gate, to the riff heavy "God Be With You" to finish it off. It's all good. And, as I have said before, the mark of a great hard rock band is the ability to mix sledgehammer instrumentation, sonic and full harmony vocals, and a good strong hook to reel you in. It's all here, folks.

If you are a fan of hard rock music in the same vein as The Runaways, Girlschool, Joan Jett or The Donnas...you need to find this record. It was long out of print until 1998, when Renaissance Records re-released this gem. I recommend looking for the compilation CD; it is their first 2 records plus some additional tracks.

"Hell Hath No Fury" starts with the title track doing all the right things. A sharp drum beat accented by a brilliantly produced "splash" cymbal. Strong harmony vocals that usher in a passionate and powerful lead vocal. And the best part of all is that the harmony vocals get in the backseat while the lead vocals drive the vehicle, and the vehicle is a monster truck. The title track is followed by a great Gary Glitter cover of "I Didn't Know I Loved You(Till I Saw You Rock & Roll)." As childish and bubblegum as this song may seem, it takes on new meaning here. Even the adolescent lyrics are played and sung with passion and feeling. You get the feeling that this band could cover "Tiptoe Through The Tulips" and get it to work.

One of the many highlights on this record is a track entitled "You've Got Fire." I have been listening to this track for around 20 years and I got a chill from listening to it yesterday. It is that good. Another gift of song this band gave the world is "The Visitors Are Here." With a great keyboard eerieness throughout the track, and the fury of singer Jody Turner, this is a classic rock & roll song also. There are many

great songs to be heard here, all I can say is "go check it out."



OVERALL RATING: 9 (1-10 scale)

For more Dr. Music reviews, visit http://DrMusic.new-sounds.com"