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Black Hawk: Straight to Hell

Heavy Metal

3.5/5.0

Kathargo Records
www.myspace.com/blackhawkmetal
www.black-hawk-music.de
By Craig Hartranft,  12.26.2010

Black Hawk (not to be confused with the American Southern rock band) comes from Northern Germany. They started in 1981 with several self-produced and hand distributed demos, resulting in the well-regarded EP First Attack (1989). And then like many upstart bands in those raucous days: Black Hawk went silent. They reemerged in the new millennium with Twenty Five (2005), their first full studio album ever. It was followed by two more albums: Dragon Ride (2007) and The Invasion (2008). 2010 finds Black Hawk in fine and similar form with Straight to Hell, a better than average platter of traditional Teutonic melodic heavy/power metal.

Without sounding dismissive or simplistic, Black Hawk is pure German melodic heavy metal: think equal parts Accept, Udo, Edguy and even Masterplan. Actually, listening to Straight to Hell, Seven Years of Pain or Isolation, I'm not quite sure of Black Hawk's direction. Listening to Bad Pussy, a song somewhere between corny and parody, melodic metal and hard rock, certainly confuses the issue. But it's quite the fun song.

Of Straight to Hell this can be said: this is fundamental and old school heavy metal. I dig it. But I'm not all that convinced. With exceptions of Shoot Shoot and Bad Pussy, nothing truly grabbed me. Yet like many albums I listen to, I'm guessing Straight to Hell will grow on me. I hope so, because Black Hawk gets it right. Recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Of Straight to Hell this can be said: this is fundamental and old school heavy metal. I dig it. But I'm not all that convinced. With exceptions of Shoot Shoot and Bad Pussy, nothing truly grabbed me. Yet like many albums I listen to, I'm guessing Straight to Hell will grow on me.

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Here's a fun fact about Swiss legends, Gotthard: their last 16 releases, excepting their debut album, went to number one in their home country, making them one of Switzerland's most successful acts and ... [ Read More ]