Release
Date: February20th, 2026
Format: Vinyl
Genre: Thrash Metal
Country: United Kingdom
Holosade come from
Darlington, County Durham, formed in 1985, deep in the UK underground where
demos, split EPs and tape trading meant survival. Frontman Philip de Sade has been the driving force since day
one, steering the band through four demos, a split that sold fast enough to
turn heads, and finally their full length debut in 1988. “Hell House” was meant
to be a shorter release, eight songs changed the plan, and history quietly
happened. Now Hammerheart Records drags this
cult beast back into the light, where it belongs.
There is something raw and stubborn
about “Hell House” that still holds up. This is UK heavy thrash with a strong
American streak, closer to the tougher side of late 80s crossover minded thrash
than the classic British mold. Riffs bite hard, rhythms stay street level,
vocals snarl without posing. It sounds hungry, not polite, and that hunger
keeps the album sharp even decades later.
“Hell House” earned its reputation
the slow way, through word of mouth and worn out copies, then vanished for
years after the band went silent. That long absence only fed its cult status.
Hearing it again now, mastered by Andy Sneap,
shows how solid these songs always were. Nothing fancy, nothing fake, just
proper heavy thrash written by people who lived it.
This re issue is more than nostalgia
bait. It is a reminder that the UK underground had plenty of fire outside the
big names. Limited to 300 copies, this vinyl pressing gives “Hell House” its
overdue spotlight. For fans of Overkill, Anthrax, Lääz Rockit, Xentrix and Meliah Rage,
this one hits the sweet spot between rough edges and memorable songwriting.
Score: 8.0
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