Artist description Studs, Leather, Denim, Long Hair, Powerful Twin-Pronged Axe-Attack!!! Screaming Vocals, Double-Kick Drums, Thundering Bass. Real Metal.

Music Style Scorching and Powerful True-Metal!!!

Musical Influences Living Death, Judas Priest, Manowar, Iced Earth, Saxon, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Motorhead

Similar Artists Living Death, Saxon, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Judus Priest, Iron Maiden

Artist History Heavy Metal Hell formed in Munich, Germany, in 1990 when teenage cousins Peter Clengham and guitarist Ruth Schnicher worked on a market stall that sold studs and leather straps. Joining forces to produce studded straps, the pair soon left Bavaria for Cologne to realise their dream of playing traditional Heavy Metal with a classical flavour, inspired by their heroes Living Death. They soon recruited likeminded musicians (the line-up survives to this day!) and began playing in the bars and clubs of Cologne. A support slot with Satan Death Kill saw them land a deal with Dental Records and in 1991 they released their debut album, the rough and ready 'Heavy Metal Hell'. On the last date of the tour, in Essen, a bridge was pushed onto the makeshift stage by an irate councillor, furious at the noise and sheer power of a heavy metal gig and, tragically, the falling masonry destroyed bassist Hans Anuls legs. With Hans unable to walk or rock-out for six months, Peter took up bass for the next album, 1992's 'Riding a Virgin'. The record was recorded in under an hour at Appletree Studios, Luggershall, UK, as most of the budget was spent on the lavish album cover depicting six dragons ganging a naked chick. The album was even rawer and more underground than the debut yet due to the lurid cover it was banned everywhere. Angry at such a wasted effort, HMH next recorded 'Jawohl!', an album sung entirely in German. Unfortunately no one bought it. 1993 was rounded of with the well-received live album, 'Heavy Metal Hell Live Again!'. Faced with the axe from Dental Records, as well as suffering some creative and drug-related issues, HMH banded together in 1994 to record the excellent 'Fortress Of Metal'. This fan-favourite record finally united the metal world to their cause and HMH were at last on the rise! Following a successful tour of European castles, HMH spent all their money on guitar synths and recorded 1995's 'Truncheon', full of FM-friendly schoolgirl slush. What fans remained were excommunicated the following year by 'The Ballads of Leo Sayer'. To be fair, the record company and taxman forced HMH to do it. The resulting bankruptcy (both fiscal and creative) left HMH with no instruments, money or fans. Luckily their Road Manager bought an old bus and discovered all HMH's old equipment that had been left in storage since 1992. It was time for HMH to start over! Constant touring to survive took HMH to 20 countries and four-hundred gigs in time for the next album, the superb 1998 return to form: 'Panzer Viking Love Chugfest' with it's stand-out track 'Cycle Chick'. But it would take more than even this great record to win back the fans, so in 1999 HMH released the 'I Am Odins Weapon Of Destruction' EP, a scathing attack on the record industry via the metaphor of Viking Conquest. It worked, and by the time of 2000's 'WAR!' HMH were back on track with their following, old and new fans alike. IN 2001 HMH released 'Metal Warriors Riding Virgins', which mixed the refined attack of the last two records with the harsh underground approach of vintage HMH. HMH are poised to release by far the best album of their career to date: 'You Need Metal!'. To prepare you, Dental Records are due to release a compilation album, 'So Far...So Very Hard'. HMH live on their tour bus and to them albums are something that happens in the tiny gaps between tours. Even so, they take great care in bringing their mighty metal power to your home via the medium of recorded music. Be warned!!! And bang your studded fist DOWN!!!!

Group Members Peter Clengam - Vocals. Ruth Schnicher - Lead Guitars.Hans Anul - Bass. Helmut Mier - Rhythm Guitars. Jurgen Hannermannermann - Drums.

Instruments Custom Flying V (black), Gibson SG (red), Ibanez Jagged Bass (black with green edges), Custom Reinforcer Drums, Audio Technica Mics, row upon row of Marshall amps

Albums Heavy Metal Hell (1991), Riding a Virgin (1992), Jawohl! (1993), Heavy Metal Hell Live Again! (1993), Fortress of Metal (1994), Truncheon (1995), Heavy Metal Hell Play The Ballads Of Leo Sayer (1996), Panzer Viking Love Chugfest (1998), Heroes of Heavy Metal (compilation - third track in on disc two - 1999), I am Odins' Weapon of Destruction EP (1999), War! (2000), Metal Warriors Riding Virgins (2001), So Far...So Very Hard (compilation - 2002), You Need Metal! (tba)

Additional Info Bullet Belt, Studded Wristband, Row o' Nails Arm Band. Smelly Jeans. Load of chicks. The first Living Death album.

Location Cologne, NRW - Germany

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