HELLION – To Hellion And Back [HNE remastered 2-CD Anthology 1983-2014] HQ *0dayrox Exclusive*

320_1 /// 320_2 /// HQ 1 /// HQ 2

Yesterday’s 3rd Stage Alert post featuring Ann Boleyn as guest musician triggered various requests of her band HELLION. UK label Hear No Evil / Cherry Red Records made an arrangement with Boleyn’s own company New Renaissance Records for the release of ”To Hellion And Back 2-CD Anthology 1983-2014”. The remastered double-disc set is out of print now, with a used copy being sold at Amazon for $264.95 (!)
Arguably Ann Boleyn is responsible for coining the term speed metal in America, and indeed she is a pioneer of metal-women bands. She is also credited for developing the careers of many international recording artists through New Renaissance Records, the record label Boleyn founded in 1984.

“To Hellion And Back” chronicles the band’s beginnings from 1982 to 2014, and features new music from Hellion especially recorded for this release. It’s a collection of fan favorites, hard-to-find recordings, and previously unreleased tracks.
Among the set are two songs that were produced by Ronnie James Dio at the legendary Sound City recording studio, while the new stuff were handled by British studio icon Ken Scott.
The line-up assembled by Ann Boleyn for the new Hellion include drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, Geoff Tate’s Queensryche, DIO), keyboardist Scott Warren (DIO, Heaven & Hell), Swedish bassist Bjorn Englen (Yngwie Malmsteen), and lead guitarist Maxxxwell Carlisle – born in 1983 when Hellion was releasing their first EP!

“To Hellion And Back” chronicles the band’s beginnings from 1982 to the present, and features new music from Hellion. It’s a collection of fan favorites, hard-to-find recordings, and previously unreleased tracks.
Among the collection are two songs that were produced by Ronnie James Dio at the legendary Sound City recording studio, while the new stuff were handled by British studio icon Ken Scott.
The line-up assembled by Ann Boleyn for the new Hellion include drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, Geoff Tate’s Queensryche, DIO), keyboardist Scott Warren (DIO, Heaven & Hell), Swedish bassist Bjorn Englen (Yngwie Malmsteen), and up-and-coming lead guitarist Maxxxwell Carlisle.

The first disc features tracks from the 1983 self-titled EP and the 1984 demo produced by Dio. Opener “Backstabber” is pure American metal, a true journey through the melodic signatures of the ’80s along with Boleyn’s soaring raspy tones.
“Break The Spell” has that little Scorpions mannerism especially in the front end of the vocals, while Bristish styled riffs are evident throughout “Up From The Depths” sharing the valor with a touch of Doro / Accept.
Possibly the best, and quite well known song of Hellion is “Run For Your Life”, a nail biter filled with melodic Heavy / Speed Metal riffs causing a rapid heartbeat. This is an historical and very memorable track showing the band’s foremost achievement.
Also remarkable are “Witching Hour” with its groovy guitar work in the vein of Black Sabbath and “Tower Of Air” where I virtually listened to a female version of Praying Mantis.

The second CD presents songs from the EP “Postcards From The Asylum” and from the album “The Black Book” of 1990 and a totally new track. The fast pacer “Nevermore” delivers smashing drums while “Exciter” discharges ounces of power. “The Evil One” might be soothing but with whole loads of evil from within, kind of DIO oriented.
Nice melodic riffs and powerful sounds with fantastic singing are the motto of the piercer “The Black Book”. One of the best tracks is the melodic “Stormrider” that is introduced by an acoustic guitar verse and then coming alive with crispy old school / classic metal connecting with might vocals.
“Demon Attack” reveals a tuneful guitaring along with the DIO infested “Dead and Gone”, while the glamish fevered “Shit (Is Gonna Hit The Fan)” is quite catchy and shows Hellion’s more accessible side akin Alice Cooper.
The first new Hellion song for over a decade is entitled “Hell Has No Fury”, a nice melodic metal cut, well written and played with strong guitars, pounding rhythm section and powerhouse vocals by Boleyn, all surrounded by an ’80s classic feeling.

If you grew up during the Eighties listening foundational metal bands like Judas Priest, Black Sabbath or Scorpions, perhaps you have missed Hellion as they never reached a major status, but without a doubt Boleyn & co. were one of the most influential (and one of the first) female fronted metal bands.
Featuring many rare and unreleased tracks, as well as songs that have been long out of print and unavailable on CD, “To Hellion And Back” documents a piece of history, a time when the guys wear denim & leather and girls like Ann Boleyn kicked the table claiming a place in a macho-dominated R’N’R world.
Highly Recommended stuff.

Disc One
01 – Backstabber (From ‘Hellion’ 1983)
02 – Driving Hard (From ‘Hellion’ 1983)
03 – Don’t Take No for an Answer (From ‘Hellion’ 1983)
04 – Break the Spell (From ‘Hellion’ 1983)
05 – Up from the Depths (From ‘Hellion’ 1983)
06 – Run for Your Life (Demo Produced by Ronnie James Dio, 1984)
07 – Get Ready (Demo Produced by Ronnie James Dio, 1984)
08 – Witching Hour (Demo, 1985)
09 – Screams in the Night (From ‘Screams in the Night’ 1987)
10 – Upside Down Guitar Solo (From ‘Screams in the Night’ 1987)
11 – The Hand (From ‘Screams in the Night’ 1987)
12 – Bad Attitude (From ‘Screams in the Night’ 1987)
13 – Tower of Air (From ‘Screams in the Night’ 1987)

Disc Two
01 – Nevermore (From ‘Postcards from the Asylum’ 1988)
02 – Exciter (From ‘Postcards from the Asylum’ 1988)
03 – The Evil One (From ‘Postcards from the Asylum’ 1988)
04 – Breakdown (From ‘Black Book’ 1990)
05 – The Black Book (From ‘Black Book’ 1990)
06 – Living in Hell (From ‘Black Book’ 1990)
07 – Stormrider (From ‘Black Book’ 1990)
08 – Demon Attack (From ‘Black Book’ 1990)
09 – Resurrection/Will Not Go Quietly (From ‘Will Not Go Quietly’ 2003)
10 – Shit (Is Gonna Hit the Fan) (From ‘Will Not Go Quietly’ 2003)
11 – Dead and Gone (From ‘Will Not Go Quietly’ 2003)
12 – Dream Deceiver (From ‘Will Not Go Quietly’ 2003)
13 – Hell Has No Fury (From ‘Karma’s a Bitch’ 2014)

Ann Boleyn – Vocals
Simon Wright – Drums
Scott Warren – Keyboards
Maxxxwell Carlisle – Guitar
Bjorn Englenn – Bass

Out Of Print
BUY used (expensive):
www.amazon.com/dp/B00I4582IK
imusic.co/music/5013929913622/hellion-2014-to-hellion-and-back-2cd-anthology-1983-2014-cd