Album Review: Green Claws – Hell Is For Hugo (Petrichor)

Green Claws presents a rock/metal opera in 23 chapters – based on a horrifying Halloween experience! Hell is for Hugo will be released on November 19th, 2021 via Petrichor.

What on earth is this? Now normally the sight of a 23-track album would fill most reviewers with dread. After all, that is a hell of a lot music to break down and analysis. However, the fan part sees 23 songs and the description of a Halloween metal/opera and gets very excited.

It coming out weeks after 2021’s Halloween period seems an odd choice but it may have been a forced one. Forget that though, it’s an epic that can be listened to at any time of the year. Not only that, it’s a ton of fun with a story that is surprisingly captivating. After all, it’s not an easy task to hold a person’s attention for nearly 80-minutes these days.

Green Claws does this with ease and you’ll quickly realise that you’re listening to the evil and twisted lovechild of Ghost, My Chemical Romance and The Who, with a touch of old-school shock-rock thrown in too. The tongue might be jammed in the cheek but it doesn’t stop it being a well-thought out, impressively written and thrilling listen.

The devil is in the detail and Hell is for Hugo has a lot of detail to enjoy. From classic rock head-bangers to melodic and poppier efforts to progressive metal energies and emo-tinged tones. All while telling a clever story that will have you dreaming of seeing it played live in full with a big stage show.

If you need a taster before committing; the likes of Calling All Demons, This Elevator, Pay the Ferryman and Loser Lucifer are worth checking out. Just four great and unique sounding tracks that encapsulate the different abilities of Green Claws.

Though bear in mind that listening to tracks in isolation will mean you’re missing out on the full story picture. Something you really don’t want to do. After all, you wouldn’t walk in halfway through an opera, right?

Green Claws – Hell is for Hugo Full Track Listing:

1. The Brick
2. Calling All Demons
3. Lucifer Hotel
4. Stolen By a Demon
5. The Scavengers
6. This Elevator
7. Hail Minos!
8. Stuck in Luxury
9. Time’s Winged Chariot
10. Sludge
11. Brand Nation
12. The Saints
13. Pay the Ferryman
14. Screaming of the Trees
15. The Brick (Part II)
16. Evil and Chill
17. Hell is For Hugo
18. Loser Lucifer
19. Scaredy-Cat
20. Part of Me
21. The Door – Hellion Rebellion
22. The Final Circle
23. Evil is a Human Trait

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | Petrichor