Hellsongs
Encyclopedia
Hellsongs were a three piece acoustic band from Sweden who produced covers of famous rock and metal songs in a very different style that they called 'lounge
rock
'. That means old metal classics performed with clear female vocals, soft guitars and organ.
radio show Rundgång on Sveriges Radio P3 featured Hellsongs playing a cover of Iron Maiden
's "Run to the Hills
" live. As Rundgång became a television show, it featured a live clip of the same act.
In 2006 the band released their debut EP "Lounge" which consists of six tracks of versions of old metal classics such as "Run to the Hills
" (originally by Iron Maiden
), "Jump
" (originally by Van Halen
) and "Orgasmatron
" (originally by Motörhead). The EP got positive response and Hellsongs built a reputation as a live act in Scandinavia.
Their first full length album, Hymns in the Key of 666 was released in early 2008 in the Nordic countries by the label Despotz Records. The album hit the Swedish charts at 9 the first week. It was later released in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine, Greece, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
In 2009 Siri Bergnéhr replaced Ohlsson as the lead singer, and the EP Pieces of Heaven, a Glimpse of Hell was issued. In 2010 a second album Minor Misdemeanors came out on Tapete Records
and in May the band toured in Germany.
On Nov 11, 2010, Siri Bergnéhr had a stroke, and the remainder of their tour dates were canceled. They played a farewell concert in their hometown of Göteborg on Mar 11, 2011, and do not plan to continue the band with the same members.
Lounge music
Lounge music is a retrospective description of music popular in the 1950s and 1960s. It is a type of mood music meant to evoke in the listeners the feeling of being in a place — a jungle, an island paradise, outer space, et cetera — other than where they are listening to it...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
'. That means old metal classics performed with clear female vocals, soft guitars and organ.
History
In 2004 the band was formed consisting of Harriet Ohlsson - lead vocals, Johan Bringhed - keyboard, vocals and Kalle - guitar, banjo and vocals. In 2005, the Swedish national heavy metalHeavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
radio show Rundgång on Sveriges Radio P3 featured Hellsongs playing a cover of Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
's "Run to the Hills
Run to the Hills
"Run to the Hills" was Iron Maiden's sixth single and the first single from their 1982 album The Number of the Beast. The lyrics clearly discuss the violence visited upon Native Americans in the Nineteenth Century. Several lines appear to address the Sioux Wars, a conflict between the Lakota...
" live. As Rundgång became a television show, it featured a live clip of the same act.
In 2006 the band released their debut EP "Lounge" which consists of six tracks of versions of old metal classics such as "Run to the Hills
Run to the Hills
"Run to the Hills" was Iron Maiden's sixth single and the first single from their 1982 album The Number of the Beast. The lyrics clearly discuss the violence visited upon Native Americans in the Nineteenth Century. Several lines appear to address the Sioux Wars, a conflict between the Lakota...
" (originally by Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
), "Jump
Jump (Van Halen song)
"Jump" is a song by the American rock group Van Halen. It is the only single the group released in their career to reach number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was released in 1984 as the second track on the album 1984...
" (originally by Van Halen
Van Halen
Van Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
) and "Orgasmatron
Orgasmatron (song)
"Orgasmatron" is the title song of British metal band Motörhead's 1986 album of the same name. One of Motörhead's heaviest songs, "Orgasmatron" is a dark apocalyptic tale of turmoil and pain mixed with religious and political themes...
" (originally by Motörhead). The EP got positive response and Hellsongs built a reputation as a live act in Scandinavia.
Their first full length album, Hymns in the Key of 666 was released in early 2008 in the Nordic countries by the label Despotz Records. The album hit the Swedish charts at 9 the first week. It was later released in the UK, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine, Greece, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
In 2009 Siri Bergnéhr replaced Ohlsson as the lead singer, and the EP Pieces of Heaven, a Glimpse of Hell was issued. In 2010 a second album Minor Misdemeanors came out on Tapete Records
Tapete Records
Tapete Records is an independent record label from Hamburg, GermanyIt was founded in 2002 by Gunther Buskies and Dirk Darmstaedter and primarily focused on Deutschpop-bands such as Erdmöbel, Niels Frevert, Tele and Anajo...
and in May the band toured in Germany.
On Nov 11, 2010, Siri Bergnéhr had a stroke, and the remainder of their tour dates were canceled. They played a farewell concert in their hometown of Göteborg on Mar 11, 2011, and do not plan to continue the band with the same members.
"Lounge" tracklisting
|
Guest musicians
- David Wertén - Double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
on "Paranoid" and "Jump" - Johannes Bergion - CelloCelloThe cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
on "Paranoid" and "Jump" - Johan Reivén - Percussion, add, guitar
"Hymns In The Key Of 666" tracklisting
|
"Pieces of Heaven, a Glimpse of Hell" tracklisting
|
"Minor Misdemeanors" tracklisting
|