Band:	Grim Reaper
Album:	See You In Hell
Style:	Heavy metal, New wave of British heavy metal
Release date:	1984
Guest review by:	omne metallum

01. See You In Hell
02. Dead On Arrival
03. Liar
04. Wrath Of The Ripper
05. Now Or Never
06. Run For Your Life
07. The Show Must Go On
08. All Hell Let Loose

The short version: the right album at the wrong time.

Had See You In Hell been released just a few years earlier when NWOBHM was in its ascendency, Grim Reaper would more than likely have seen their name listed next to other greats of the genre whenever the topic is mentioned. Alas, it is due to poor timing that this album has slipped many by, for if you ever decide to listen to See You In Hell you will know it wasn't for lack of quality that the album isn't regarded as a classic.

Grim Reaper's brand of NWOBHM is both heavy and catchy, easy to sing along to when you are headbanging to the awesome guitar work. Led by the powerful vocals of Steve Grimmett and visceral fret work of founding guitarist Nick Bowcott, the band release a banger of an album in See You In Hell. Hitting their stride on tracks like "All Hell Let Loose" and "Dead On Arrival", the band could easily hold their own against peers like Raven or Blitzkrieg. Fun yet heavy at the same time, it balances both even in the face of bands who focus on one or the other.

The production may be embryonic, but it adds to the charm on this album, a diamond in the rough. It isn't that much different to many of their luminaries on their debuts: lo-fi, but still the power of the material shines through regardless of any shortcomings in the production. The only issue that I will mention in short here is that the drums should have been pushed to the back of the mix more (more on that later).

The band have talent in spades; Grimmett can hit high notes with conviction like on the title track, and effuse power even when changing approach like on the quickfire verses of "Liar". Bowcott is probably one of the better guitarists in the genre; check out "Wrath Of The Reaper" to find out why. Wanklin's bass is much better than his name suggests, holding down the low end while not finding itself welded to either guitar or bass; it's just a shame it is stuck in the background for much of the album.

Where does the album fall flat? The drumming on this album is dire. With all due respect to Harris, but he sounds like an amateur behind the kit and given the mix of the album isn't protected so much as pushed into the spotlight. Probably the most glaring example of this is "Run For Your Life"; he keeps much of the same beat for the song (though does throw in some fills) but as the song tries to end on a manic note, he continues at the same speed as before and it is jarring to the ears.

If you consider yourself a fan of NWOBHM or want a place to get started, See You In Hell should be high on the list of places to start, a concise and powerful example of what the genre could offer. Grim Reaper did not get the due they deserved but at least this album can go down as one of the brightest moments in the short-lived genre.