Hardcore Superstar have been regarded as torchbearers of the old school hard and heavy sound for most of my lifetime. They formed 25 (!!!) years ago and first caught my attention in the early 2010s when I saw an ad for Split Your Lip (2010) while flipping through the pages of Metal Hammer. Funny enough, I discovered the recently reviewed Reckless Love this same way. These print publications were practically a bible for I and many others before social media completely took over around 2013ish, but I digress. In the time that’s passed since I first discovered HCSS, I’ve become quite the fan, exploring nearly every facet of their lengthy catalog.
Some of their releases echo the rowdy glam punk of pioneers like New York Dolls and Heartbreakers (i.e. 2000’s Bad Sneakers and a Piña Colada). Other releases are full blown metal, coming off as a cross between Metallica and Slave to the Grind era Skid Row (i.e. 2007’s Dreamin’ in a Casket). At the end of the day, whether they’re playing metal, punk, glam, or a glitter encrusted amalgamation of the three (which is the case on their latest album, Abrakadabra), HCSS are faithful followers of the sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll mentality. Their music is ferociously fast, unapologetically loud, and sleazy beyond compare.
The band’s glam influence is most evident in their emphasis on anthemic choruses. It’s so much so that you can’t help but think when it comes to songwriting, HCSS is a “chorus first, rest of the song second” band. You know the type of choruses I’m talking about; the ones utilized by Sweet and W.A.S.P. on their first album and even Pretty Boy Floyd. If this approach is your cup of tea, you’re gonna love cranking up tracks like “When You Die”, “Give Me a Smile”, “One for All”, and the title track. If not, too bad. These dudes are doing it anyway and could care less what you or I or anyone else thinks.
When they aren’t laying down this four on the floor, fail-safe formula, HCSS make the most exploring the odds and ends of their creative spectrum. No, there aren’t any prog suites or extreme metal escapades or 20 minute freeform jazz odysseys. But there are high speed headbangers (“Catch Me If You Can”, “Throw a Brick”), slow metallic burns (“Dreams in Red”), and even a symphonic power ballad carrying on in the grand tradition of late 80s glam metal (“Fighter”). All of these songs showcase the varying sides of HCSS, without veering completely outside of their realm.
HCSS aren’t the world’s most dynamic songwriters or musicians, but they never were to begin with. What they lack in technical ability they make up for in raw power and unbridled energy. Sometimes that’s all you need. Their music is dangerous enough to turn a school age youth to turn to juvenile delinquency, but hooky enough to make that same youth’s parents say, “Isn’t that a catchy melody!” Wolves in sheep clothing never rocked this hard!
7 out of 10
Label: Golden Robot Records
Genre: Hard Rock
For fans of: Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, W.A.S.P.