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Hysterica: Metal War

Hysterica: Metal War

Heavy Metal
Rating: 4.0/5.0

Sound Pollution
www.hysterica.se
www.myspace.com/hysterica
Review: Craig Hartranft,  06.28.2009

An all female rock or metal band is hardly new. Finding a really good one is definitely good news. Sweden's Hysterica is all girl and all metal (check out the song, Girls Of Heavy Metal for their proof). Honestly, these girls have talent, both playing well and crafting good songs. Essentially, Metal War is straight up heavy metal with no modern or trendy embellishments like death vocals, blast beats or excessive riff-driven brutality. Often heavy and hard charging, but also catchy and melodic, Metal War is loaded with classic head banging and fist pumping metal. Hysterica can not only keep pace with boys but kick their asses as well.

Keys to Hysterica's talent are several. Lead vocalist Anni De Vil (all the members have cliche metal names) definitely has the pipes for metal, rivaling any male singer. The rhythm section of SatAnica (b) and Hell'n (d) is breathlessly accurate and formidable. Additionally, Bitchie and RockZilla, though hardly breaking new ground, lay down some strong and fundamental guitar licks.

Putting the songs together, Metal War is all hearty, hard driving metal with no filler and not a single ballad. Hysterica can be straight up in-your-face intense as on Bless The Beast or Devil In Me. Other times, the melody overcomes the heaviness to create a great groove and catchy song as on We Are The Undertakers, Halloween, or Wreck Of Society. Sometimes the two elements combine like steel fist wrapped in a velvet glove on The Bitch Is Back (my favorite song) and the seriously humorous, Pain In The Ass. Of course, Hysterica also fields the cliche 'metal' songs: Girls Made Of Heavy Metal, Metal War, and Heavy Metal War. If the gals weren't so good, this would only pass as Manowar meets Spinal Tap parody.

In the end, its all metal and a whole lot of fist pumping fun from five gals who can truly bring it on. Very recommended!

In Short

Often heavy and hard charging, but also catchy and melodic, Metal War is loaded with classic head banging and fist pumping metal. Hysterica can not only keep pace with boys but kick their asses as well.

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