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3.0 out of 5 stars
Still packs a punch, April 28, 2002
In recent years HADES have been at the top of my favorite Power/Thrash outfits. The bands last two efforts have left me consistently craving more and with DamNation the band have given me reason again to put my head through the wall. I can say up front that while this is probably the band's most aggressive sounding release of the past three, it doesn't quite measure up with the catchiness of those before it. Not a real big mark down but worth mentioning also is the absence of clever song titles that have become so common for HADES. What really matters here is the musical content and HADES again deliver quality Power/Thrash with those now expected hooks born out of brainy choruses and addictive riffs. While listening to a few of these tracks I could not help but be reminded of late 1980's SLAYER. When you sample the album for yourself you will immediately know what I am talking about. Expect little else in the way of comparison as this is meat and potatoes HADES.
The Downside revealed HADES talking a more subdued approach to their songwriting. DamNation is quite the opposite and is clearly engineered with aggression and energy above all other things. Keep in mind as well that you will be treated again to highly skilled leads, momentary bouts of bluesy riffing and witty lyrical statements. The 12 tracks represent HADES quite well in a collective sense as this album really captures elements of both prior releases. Though in totality this may not be as strong as either that preceded it, DamNation still mandates purchase by anyone at all interested in the band and their recent outings.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
For the third time running... No Lawyers, Managers...., February 7, 2002
The politically incorrect Hades returns once again bringing more of the same type of metal that they have kept on banging out for a long time now. They keep grinding it out, and I keep liking it. I guess I'm old fashioned, kooky or brain dead, but I still enjoy these guys. They still rock, and dang it if I don't get charged up over the whacked out stylings of lead belter Alan Tecchio. what a set of lungs. Maybe its age catching up with me. Don't know. Whatever. Hades belts out some more political stuff, some sci-fi stuff and... well, more stuff. Pretty much middle of the road metal, nothing too terribly risky, with the familiar flavor they're used to putting out. It may be getting a little too familiar or too worn, but there are some sparks of intensity inside this laser read donut that kind of shouts "go nutty!" The tunes have magic, it might be time for some new magic (or at least some experimentation), but its there, and it is good. Sure, I'd like to see something 100% fresh and original, and I'll keep on listening, because I know they are very capable of doing that. A lot of underlying talent here. There isn't a whole lot of this style of metal music left, with everything trying to be heavier, faster, more brutal, or just plain more insane than the so-called (a worn out cliche) "old school" bands. So, its nice to know that some bands still bite, scratch and claw at it the way the mid-eighties band did. Very respective of its predecessor "The Downside". The downside here, is it may have too much of the same vibe as "The Downside", a little repeating of that formula, but its an album that should be had by completists and those who still like good old fashioned over the top metal. All in all, a catchy, hammering record. And for you true enthusiasts, Alan and Dan had another band going there at one time when Hades was in... uhm, limbo. Check out Non-Fiction to, for some more killer (and quite slick) metal stylings.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great riffs, high notes, a great pure metal album, July 11, 2001
I've heard people call this a speed/thrash album. That's mostly untrue. At its base, it's a traditional metal album. Most of the songs depend on heavy mid-paced riffs. And the songs are generally great. But if you're looking for innovation and originality, this is not the album for you. This album would've sounded right at home in 1989. If that sounds just fine to you, then get this album.As good as the music is, Alex Tecchio's vocal performance is generally the key to liking or disliking this album. I admit his performance is somewhat undisciplined; he goes from low notes to high ones seemingly out of nowhere. Personally, I enjoyed this because it added a measure of raw unpredictability to a metal CD that generally conforms to the rules of the genre. Needless to say, the use of high notes goes a long way to giving the CD it's dated feel. Again, that's either a blessing or a curse depending on your tastes. Overall, this is a solid, enjoyable disc. It's hard to compare it to other albums, but I'd say the album appeals to me in the same way Priest's "Painkiller" did. It's a traditional metal album with a little extra speed and heaviness. Definitely recommended.
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by Hades 
