I have no interest in cars. None at all. But Gasõlines? They probably put diesel on their cornflakes.
“Helldorado” is the sound of Backyard Babies if they gargled gravel, a record so caked in dust and petrol fumes it should probably come with a warning label. And if you’re ready for the ride, then may Lemmy have mercy on your soul.
It all kicks off with “Riding Shotgun”, a dirty, bluesy boogie that sets the tone: nasty, greasy, and played by the last gang in town. “Devil Deuce” and “Dead Man’s Hand” swagger with the kind of sleaze that suggests the band have lived every mile they sing about. In short, it sounds like rock n’ roll should.
If you love guitar playing and huge choruses, then “Bucking The Tiger” is a highlight — riffy, punchy, and built for speeding tickets. And if you dread to think what “Ace In The Hole” is actually about, then you’re certainly not the only one.
This whole thing is a journey onto the highway to hell, except it’s breaking the speed limit and has its pubes on fire. By “Death Rider” and “A-Bomb Pinup” you’re left wondering if they’re going for the world record for riffs-per-minute.
If you’re asking how they do it so fast, then “Wrecking Ball” turns up purely to show you they can go faster still. And just in case you missed the point, they shift gear again for “Speed Trap” — a title that does exactly what it says on the tin.
At the start of “Burn Forever” they’re talking about Carmageddon; by the end they’re playing a solo Ginger Wildheart would love.
“Helldorado” is filthy, frantic and frantically good fun. Gasõlines don’t just make records about cars — they drive them straight into your skull.
8/10
