There were so many bands of the 80s glam/sleaze/pop metal scene who should’ve been bigger than they were. One such band was Love/Hate. Those who do remember this Los Angeles based outfit likely recall lead singer Jizzy Pearl’s infamous mock crucifixion to the Hollywood sign or his subsequent stint(s) with Quiet Riot as opposed to their music. Which is a shame, because Love/Hate was one of the finest bands of the genre’s second wave. In an age where even one time saviors Guns N’ Roses had succumbed to multimillion dollar videos and 10+ minute suites, Love/Hate stripped rock n’ roll down to its barest elements: steady rhythm, power chords, and raw vocals.
Although the faces that make up Love/Hate have changed over the years, this tried and true formula hasn’t. Neither has Pearl, who remains the band’s de facto captain over 30 years later. I can’t for the life of me tell you who backs him on this latest release, Hell, CA, but they sure do a damn good job at doing so, as well as carrying on the Love/Hate tradition. Furthermore, Pearl has managed to concoct a collection of hard rockers that come straight from the heart and soul, guts and nuts. In this case, I’m selfishly glad Love/Hate never made it. There’s no way a rich man could write such an album.
Hell, CA comes storming out of the gate with the high speed sleaze of “One Hot Minute”. No frills here folks! Just pure retro adrenaline in the vein of Motörhead and pre-sobriety/suck Aerosmith. From there, we’re treated to a blitzkrieg of loud, sweaty rock n’ rollers that channel the hedonistic spirit of the 70s. The gritty, grimy grooves of “Acid Babe”, “Wanna Be Somebody”, and “Lonely Days Are Gone” scream Led Zeppelin, with Pearl even paying homage in the form of some “ooooohhhh”-s and “baby baby baby”-s. Unlike certain three worded bands of today, Love/Hate wears their influences on their sleeve while their tongues lie firmly planted in cheek.
As much as one can simply nail Hell, CA down as an Aerosmith or Zeppelin worship album, there are various nuances within that separate it from such narrow description. The sweet, pure groove and melodies of “When You Gonna Get Home” boast a slight southern tinge. Think prime Skynyrd or, while not exclusively “southern”, Badlands circa Voodoo Highway (1991). Meanwhile, “Bruised and Battered” lives up to its name, boasting big, lumbering riffs which largely contrast the power pop infused arrangement, as if the quirky and mostly innocent Cheap Trick just downed a bottle of ludes.
If you’re into all of the bands I just used as reference points (and who isn’t?), you’ll love Love/Hate. The last part of that sentence seems grammatically incorrect, but who cares? As the old Stones song goes, “It’s Only Rock ‘n Roll (But I Like It)”. Love/Hate doesn’t just like it. They live for it. So leave your cares and troubles at the door and join them on a trip to hell…Hell, CA, that is!
7 out of 10
Label: Golden Robot Records
Genre: Hard Rock
For fans of: Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses