Hallow's Eve was yet another one of the many thrash bands that surfaced in the mid to late 80s only to get limited attention. Death and Insanity happens to be a pretty good record, though not precisely the kind of thing that will separate them from the pack. This particular album shows they occasionally could write an energetic romp through the thrash woods, such as the title track, "Lethal Tendencies" (where singer Stacy Anderson lets out some pretty good bellows) or "Nobody Lives Forever". But at the same much of the material is relatively bland and typical of the times. There was a reasonable amount of melody and as on "Nobody Lives Forever", Anderson can carry a tune fairly well without resorting to outright shrieking or falsettos. The band didn't necessarily resort to speed throughout the album, often aiming for a midpaced approach with emphasis on riffage to carry the songs. Of course, when the riffs aren't particularly special, that doesn't help a whole lot. Hallow's Eve is one of those sort of bands that have a bit of a special nostalgia feeling to them because of the fact I listened to them quite a bit as a teenager and due to that, Death and Insanity is something I'll put on from time to time. As for recommending them to others, I insist you, as well, must have similar fond memories of growing up in the late 80s thrash scene. Otherwise I'd prefer to point you to better thrash bands of the era.

Review by John Chedsey

Review date: 04/2000

Back to top 

Hallows Eve's 1988 Monument is definitely one of those albums that even hardcore thrash enthusiasts can do without. On their earlier releases, the band at least was able to write a few songs that were above mediocrity but on a whole Monument is more like a tourist trap. When you have a song praising high volume with "The Mighty Decibel", you know that the band is scraping the bottom of the musical idea barrel. Riffs are very uninteresting and are about as exciting as waiting for your number to be called at the DMV. Whereas Stacy Anderson let out some pretty massive bellows on Death and Insanity, he sounds positively sedate throughout all of Monument. Most ironically, when he states, "I feel so inarticulate" on "Sheer Heart Attack", you realize how true that statement rings for the entire album. Maybe the band had something else in mind when they conceived this record, but it certainly isn't delivered with any sort of conviction. Definitely a record to avoid.

Review by John Chedsey

Review date: 05/2000

Back to top