THE HANGMEN – The Hangmen (1989) *HQ*
Anyone remember Hollywood rockers THE HANGMEN? And their self titled debut album “The Hangmen“? Not many, as despite being a very good LP and released by major label Capitol, in 1989 there were so many good other releases in the overcrowded American scene, and these guys went unnoticed (in part thanks to Capitol zero promotion).
As requested, here’s “The Hangmen” which is now a coveted collector’s item (£248.00 Amazon), a very hard to find CD.
After forming in the mid-‘80s and signing to Capitol Records in the wake of the post Guns N’ Roses feeding frenzy, the band got lost in the shuffle, dropped when their self-titled debut didn’t sell and eventually ended up on the skids, strung out on dope. Sound familiar? Yeah, like just about every other post-glam, pre-grunge act that never got label back up.
But the Hangmen were never really a glam band or a metal band like their teased-hair peers. Nope, they were, and are, a down n’ dirty, hard as nails, cheap as dirt, rock n’ roll outfit. Sure, “The Hangmen” sounds a lot like G N’ R, but there’s even more rawness, swaggering, uncompromising, no-holds-barred, no-quarter-given, gutter-punky-blues here.
The Hangmen never got their due with the majors. Rock ‘N’ Roll this honest, vital and dangerous-sounding is a rarity these days. This 1989 debut is food for the soul.
Capitol quite wrong-headedly tried to lump the band in with the hair metal horde still popular at the time and radio, of course, all but ignored this fine platter. The band slashes and burns behind frontman Bryan Small, who sneers brilliantly like some weasel-faced street rebel with tons of attitude.
All 12 tunes are keepers, including a blinding rip through the Flaming Groovies’ classic “Slow Death”. Crossing Faster Pussycat with early G n’ N, the 1989 effort opens with the ballsy, low-slung cool groovin’ “Desperation Town”, which features Small fronting the renegade quartet with his brash vocal delivery.
The no-way-out opening cut sets the mood for the entire album, which packs on the amped-up “Coal Mine”, plus “Walking in the Woods”, “Last Drive”, the hungover “Rotten Sunday”, and “Slow Death”.
Produced by British Vic Maile (Motörhead, Eric Clapton), the gritty LP from the greasy gang finds the boys bangin’ it out with confidence and feeling from start to close, as the collection of twelve short rock shots lean heavily into raw rockin’ blues.
A lost underground classic, who’s reputation is growing with each passing year. Get it while you still can… you won’t be sorry!
01 – Desperation Town
02 – Coal Mine
03 – Walking In The Woods
04 – Tell Me What You Want
05 – It’s Over For You
06 – Last Drive
07 – My Way
08 – Rotten Sunday
09 – Kiss From You
10 – Cry Cry Cry
11 – Slow Death
12 – Lonely
Vocals, Guitar – Bryan Small
Guitar, Vocals – Billy Catterson
Bass, Vocals – Johnny D. Holliday
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Lenny Montoya
BUY
www.amazon.co.uk/The-Hangmen/dp/B0001LVH0K
