Hell

Hell is a UK heavy metal band from Nottingham, active from 1982 to the present. It forms part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement and is associated with doom metal and drone as well as heavy metal.

Formation and early history

The band forms in 1982 in Derbyshire, England, from members of the recently split British metal groups Race Against Time and Paralex. Its early reputation comes from a horror-themed stage show, a heavy NWOBHM sound and an early use of corpse paint, which later becomes closely associated with black metal. Hell draws comparisons with Iron Maiden, Mercyful Fate, Saxon and Judas Priest. Despite strong underground support through word of mouth and tape trading, it goes largely unnoticed by labels and music press at first.

Recordings, break-up and revival

Hell later signs to the Belgian label Mausoleum Records, but the label goes bankrupt shortly before the band is due to record its debut album. The collapse leads to the band splitting up, and vocalist and guitarist Dave Halliday, a co-founder, dies by suicide in 1987.

In 2008, the original members Tony Speakman, Kev Bower and Tim Bowler contact guitarist Andy Sneap about re-recording old material alongside the planned release of the group’s early demos. Sneap agrees, taking on both production and guitar duties, while David Bower joins on vocals. David Bower is also known as a television and stage actor and is Kev Bower’s brother.

Albums and later activity

Hell releases Human Remains on Nuclear Blast in 2011 and follows it with Curse and Chapter in 2013. The band returns in 2018 with a self-titled third album on Sentient Ruin Laboratories. It also appears at a run of high-profile festivals after its return.

Members

The band includes Kev Bower, Tim Bowler, David Halliday, Tony Speakman, Andy Sneap and David Bower.