Reviews
The Hellacopters: Head off
14/01/11 || Habakuk
I turn the cross upside down
and read Satanic Bible with fucking grown
my life begins at midnight twelve
masturbate to kill myself
Blasphemer!!!
Blasphemer!!!
Blasphemer!!!
Blasphemer!!!
What the…? Yes, what follows now is absolute blasphemy for all you know-it-alls: These covers are better than the original versions. There, I said it – farewell, traditionalist’s license…
This is a complete cover album, in case you didn’t notice. That would be forgivable actually, as Swedish rockers The Hellacopters decided to make these twelve songs their fucken own for their announced goodbye album “Head off”. Since the originals were done by famous bands like “Demons” or “The Peepshows”, that wasn’t too hard in the first place, but still – this could as well be a genuine ‘Copters album (Look, honestly, I haven’t even listened to all the originals). And it’s fucken awesome to boot. Talk about leaving on a high note – this is how it’s done.
Sure, there are some sugary love-tunes like “Darling, darling” or “Another turn” (among the other, less-sugary love-tunes), but I believe that’s the point. Hot daymn are those catchy. My allergic reaction was over before it began. No, I actually like them. Still, you should definitely be aware of the fact that this is a comparatively soft album. However, there’s always a little bit of edge left, be it in the great vocals, the song’s pace or the guitar playing including simple, but absolutely fantastic leads.
If you are familiar with the band then it won’t be news to you that these guys know how to write a decent, guitar-centered tune and these songs are no different – although they apparently didn’t write them. Well, let’s say they know how to pick a decent tune just as well. The perfectly-produced and full-sounding album is a smooth ride from the groovy driving main riff into “Electrocute” to the end of “Darling, darling” and it’s chock full of hits, so I won’t even start listing favorites.
This is a must buy for every Hellacopters enthusiast that can appreciate their more “commercial” side, an album you can listen to while girls are around (theoretically…), a catchy rock disc from front to back, and a pretty ace goodbye from an awesome band. Oh, and the artwork’s cool.
…attack you with spell!!!

- Information
- Released: 2008
- Label: Sound pollution
- Website: www.hellacopters.com
- Band
- Nicke Andersson: vocals, guitars
- Jens Robert Dahlqvist: guitars, backing vocals
- Anders Lindström: keyboards, organ, backing vocals
- Kenny Håkansson: bass, backing vocals
- Matz Robert Eriksson: drums, percussion, vocals
- Tracklist
- 01. Electrocute
- 02. Midnight angels
- 03. I’m watching you
- 04. No salvation
- 05. In the sign of the octopus
- 06. Veronica Lake
- 07. Another turn
- 08. I just don’t know about girls
- 09. Rescue
- 10. Making up for lost time
- 11. Throttle bottom
- 12. Darling, darling
