Hellbound Hepcats No 2. CD Review

For this week’s flashback, we’re only going to jump back to 2012. Why, because the album we’re going to talk about is a dead ringer and it doesn’t matter if it’s not old, it deserves to be dusted off and talked about again. The Hellbound Hepcats were/are a Rockabilly band out of Canada. I don’t know a great deal about them other than they released 3 albums on Stomp Records. Stomp is known for releasing Rockabilly/Psychobilly albums, notably the Creepshow. The label is actually how I found the Hepcats, I was combing through a Rockabilly distro and noticed the band had been released on Stomp so I figured I’d check it out and that was all it took for me to grab the band’s sophomore release entitled “No. 2”. Since the moment this LP hit my box, I haven’t gone a month without spinning it. It’s a perfect Rockabilly album considering it was released in 2012.
 
The Hellbound Hepcats aren’t your typical Rockabilly band, the music leans into the 50’s style of Rockabilly, like Buddy Holly and a bit of the Country twang that was happening around that era. The Hepcats aren’t imitators by any means, so there’s a freshness to the music and the lyrics. Vocally, Alex Brown has a soulful voice that can’t really be compared to anyone. He’s his own man on the mic, smooth and melodic in all the right spots. The album “No. 2” opens with what I consider my favorite track off the album “Play with Fire”. It’s not as swift as a Tiger Army tune, but it very much comes off in that manner without a distortion pedal. The guitar riffs are all clean and rich, you can tell Alex plays a Gretsch hollow body, the tones are thick and lush with color. Lyrically, the track is spot on, heartfelt if we can call it that – I relate a great deal - “I’m a cheater, I’m stealer, I’m a liar, I like to play with fire”! Rhythmically the song jumps and jives due to the drummer, he’s got that train beat down pat and it’s blistering, I’m tired thinking about playing it myself. The tune “Like Lightning” gives us a bit of the ole Honky Tonk “slap and tickle” with a ton of brilliant guitar riffs and fills. “Cold Monday” is a bit of somber track, but fear not, it’s not a ballad, it’s just a bit on the moody side. Brown’s guitar and vocal work here really stand out, his guitar fills are tasteful and fit well. If I’m not mistaken, the lead single off the album was the tune “Underpants Dance”, it’s another one of those jumpin’ and jivin’ numbers where the band moves at a ferocious pace. The lyrics don’t hurt the song either – dancing in your underpants with a chic that you fancy! Could there be anything better? “Rockabilly Queen” is another favorite tune off the album, it features some brilliant guitar riffs/leads and fills that keep it moving. In all there are ten tracks to be incensed with here and none of them are weak. Every tune here represents a feeling/mood and none of them are bad, it’s all joyful. This is without a doubt one of my favorite Rockabilly albums of all time and I have a TON of these damned things!!!

Considering I’d never heard of The Hellbound Hepcats until I came across this album in a distro, I’m sure there are others in the same boat. If you’re a fan Rockabilly backed with a little Country swagger, look no further than The Hellbound Hepcats “No. 2” album. I have the red edition of the vinyl, and I also have the CD – it’s a must! There’s a white vinyl edition too, but I haven’t seen it anywhere. Vinyl wise, I haven’t seen the album anywhere in a while. The last I heard, this version of the band is no longer, now they’re known as Alex Brown and the Hepcats and they’ve released two albums very similar to the Hellbound Hepcats works. Don’t take my word for it though, dig in and check the tunes out, go digging for some vinyl and CDS, this is an absolute must have if you’re a fan of Rockabilly!

~Black Angel