In my over 13 years as a music journalist, I have seen some of the worst press releases ever. I\u2019ve seen a band\u2019s sound described as \u201cnapalm blowing up on your front lawn first thing in the morning.\u201d\u00a0 I\u2019ve seen an album described as \u201cthe album that will make you want to throw away all of your other albums\u201d when I literally threw said CD in the trash after two songs.<\/p>\n
Now and then, I do get some amazing press releases, though. For example, Swedish space rockers Horrisont\u2019s press release stated, \u201cHorrisont is a band that is big of mustache and tight of trousers.\u201d\u00a0 There was also a band called Wilson, who I thought sucked, but their press release was more epic than epic, stating, \u201cThey\u2019re five dudes in a van with beards and big dicks- working harder than your parents. But instead of giving their all as stockbrokers or auto-mechanics or assistant branch managers, their job is to destroy your party.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those are pretty fucking great, but nothing tops the press release for the Swedish classic rockers Hellsingland Underground<\/strong>. First, let me state that I had never heard one cord of this band before a friend shared their press release. As I said before, a press release is your introduction to the writers of the world. The more clich\u00e9 you get, the more likely we are to roll our eyes and sadly pass judgment a bit early (or, in some cases, not soon enough).<\/p>\n For others (hopefully more) like myself, if it\u2019s funny and brutally honest while giving themselves a critical wedgie, I will definitely give your shit a listen. No doubt. I like that, and it makes me want to listen to them.\u00a0 \u00a0That is exactly what happened after reading the release for Hellsingland Underground. The lead singer\u2019s 16-year-old daughter wrote the following.<\/p>\n And once again he\u2019s forced me to do a job that he obviously is too lazy or incompetent to do himself. He apparently things child labour is perfectly fine in 2022.<\/strong><\/p>\n I didn\u2019t\u2019 even know what a press release was. But after a lot of nagging and bribery of various kinds, I finally put forward my terms: I will write it if it presented in my version, without censorship. And he agreed with it. So, blame yourself.<\/strong><\/p>\n First of all, I don\u2019t understand why anyone would want to buy a piece of plastic that is just insanely difficult to play. Feels damn 20th<\/sup> century if you ask me. He says, that I don\u2019t \u201cget the point\u201d but in truth, it\u2019s he himself who\u2019s old and lagging behind.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n I have no idea how to get anyone interested in this. But sometimes I can\u00a0 feel a little sad for them for still trying.<\/strong><\/p>\n But if I\u2019m going to try to say something positive about the whole thing, it\u2019s good for him that he has such good friends like the guys in the band. Because he doesn\u2019t have any others. It\u2019s also nice that they get to \u201csee the world\u201d a bit when they\u2019re on tour. Too bad they smell like Germany when they come back. regardless of whether they\u2019ve been to Spain, Sweden, or anywhere else. Don\u2019t they shower?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n The whole thing mostly feels like an excuse to get away and drink beer and act like idiots. But as long as he is happy, and I get to avoid his worst outbursts.<\/strong><\/p>\n Now he forces me to write \u201cat lease SOMETHING positive\u201d about this record. And okay then. My little sister Nico and Jerry\u2019s son Louie did a great job in the video for \u201cYoung & Dumb.\u201d\u00a0 It\u2019s actually great fun.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n But good luck. Or something.<\/strong><\/p>\n Juni, 16 years (Charlie\u2019s daughter).\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n If that doesn\u2019t make you want to listen to Hellsingland Underground\u2019s Endless Optimism album, I don\u2019t know what the hell will. Even as great as this write-up was, I kept my expectations low, but goddamn, I didn\u2019t expect them to be exceeded by such a long shot.<\/p>\n Everything about Endless Optimism made me feel connected to these guys because I\u2019m an old fart myself. I also don\u2019t have kids, but I imagine this is the kind of shit they would say about me if I did. It only sent me right over to check out Hellsingland Underground\u2019s music. I was met with a classic, roots rock plethora of delights to my absolute delight. It pretty much sounds like a bunch of dads making music with each other but doing it as well, if not better than the more known bands of their genre.<\/p>\n Musically, Hellsingland Underground scratches a lot of itches. The musical influence of the Allman Brothers Band and Dr. Hook, with a Frank Zappa-ish lead vocalist, all make for one badass goulash.<\/p>\n The songs are just good ol\u2019 fashioned Rock n\u2019 Roll, a combination of many influences. The Allman Brothers Band, Dr. Hook, some Bob Dylan, Frank Zappa, and the good ol\u2019 British early \u201890s roots\/rock revivalists like the London Quireboys and the Black Crowes combined create a sound that I can only describe as, well, Hellsingland Underground. But, instead of focusing on just one influence, they combined them all and developed their own sound, comforting like an old blanket and nostalgic without sounding or feeling dated.<\/p>\n I rarely discover a new-ish band of old dregs that are close in age to me. As an old dude who still loves to have fun and still loves finding magic in music, hearing songs like \u201cYoung & Dumb\u201d and \u201cOld White Men\u201d hilariously struck a chord with me. It also gave me some inspiration, confidence, and happiness that I am still making music at this later point in my life.<\/p>\n Hellsingland Underground is a band that I needed to hear at this point in my life. It never ceases to amaze me how a band can magically connect with you, tug on your heartstrings, and inspire you. Hellsingland Underground is a reminder that you are never too old to kick some ass and have fun while making great music. Endless Optimism is one of the records we didn\u2019t know we needed, and it\u2019s one of the rock records we should all be listening to. It\u2019s Rock n\u2019 Roll; it\u2019s sincere, honest, and sure as hell ain\u2019t pretty.<\/p>\nMy dad and his gang of smelly bearded geezers release another \u201crecord.\u201d\u00a0 Good for them.<\/h2>\n