Review / 200 Words Or Less
Hell Within
Shadows of Vanity

Lifeforce (2007) Kevin Fitzpatrick

Hell Within – Shadows of Vanity cover artwork
Hell Within – Shadows of Vanity — Lifeforce, 2007

Taken verbatim from the initial notes of the reviewer: Starts out promisingly enough with Derek Jay beating the snare like he just caught it pooching his wife. Same energy as early Metallica (hey kids! remember them?). Vocalist reminiscent of the Avenged Sevenfold dude. Christ, I hope he looks cooler.)

The song being referred to is the opening and title track "Shadows of Vanity". To call Hell Within the ultimate Headbanger's Ball band would not be a compliment. To say it should be the ultimate Headbanger's Ball band would be more apt, because as anyone who watches the show can attest to, it's become a not-so-delightful mélange of Ozzfest castoffs and sound-alikes that hardly has one rushing to the music shop to pick up the latest and greatest. Hell Within could very well be the next savior of heaviness. Crisp, suitable production, slightly above average vocals (possibly improved by a recent singer-sacking) minimal (yet sadly, still existent) breakdowns but surrounded by some of the best riffs this side of the last Exodus album make this one of the few albums you can really bust out the mosh to.

Hell Within – Shadows of Vanity cover artwork
Hell Within – Shadows of Vanity — Lifeforce, 2007

Related news

Thorp Signs Hell Within

Posted in Labels on October 30, 2009

Recently-posted album reviews

Sexfaces

Bad Vibes OST
Slovenly (2025)

Best thing about writing reviews is finding out about new stuff that I otherwise might not have heard. Also writing reviews for bands that aren’t friends of mine is pretty cool but when I hear a band I really like, like Sex Faces, it makes me want to be friends with them, I can't help it! I’m not even halfway … Read more

Unseemlier

I Have A Screw Loose, Somewhere
Sell The Heart Records (2025)

What does Unseemlier sound like? I've been mulling that question as I listen to I Have A Screw Loose, Somewhere for a while now. As I listen to more and more Sell The Heart releases, The band is from Boston, but seemingly influenced by late '80s DC. It's heavy, but more with hardcore-like vocals shouted over moving, building guitars and … Read more

Personality Cult

Dilated
Dirtnap (2025)

I had a hard time starting this review. I can’t help coming back to the fact that it sounds like Marked Men. It does, maybe intentionally so, as Dilated is the second of Personality Cult’s albums that is produced by Jeff Burke of Marked Men and Radioactivity. But I don’t necessarily like to say a band sounds like another band … Read more