The Hellacopters
High-octane Swedish rock that pairs Detroit garage grit with soulful 70s hooks. It is the sound of a leather jacket, a loud amp, and a long highway.
High-octane Swedish rock that pairs Detroit garage grit with soulful 70s hooks. It is the sound of a leather jacket, a loud amp, and a long highway.
The Hellacopters sound like a high-speed chase through a 1970s rock landscape, fueled by the raw energy of punk and the precision of heavy metal. Their music is built on a foundation of twin-guitar harmonies, driving percussion, and a sense of effortless cool that feels both timeless and urgent. It is the sonic equivalent of a perfectly worn-in denim vest: rugged, authentic, and ready for anything.
What truly sets them apart is the 'Action Rock' DNA. While other garage revivalists leaned into irony or lo-fi fuzz, The Hellacopters embraced big choruses and technical proficiency. Nicke Andersson’s transition from death metal drumming to soulful rock vocals brought a unique rhythmic tightness and melodic sensibility that few of their peers could match. The addition of boogie-woogie piano and soul-inflected backing vocals in their later years added a layer of sophistication without sacrificing the grit.
Start with 'High Visibility' or 'By the Grace of God' to hear the band at their peak of melodic power. These albums showcase their ability to write massive anthems that still feel like they were born in a sweaty basement. If you want the raw, unhinged energy of their early days, 'Supershitty to the Max!' is the essential starting point.
The Hellacopters are a Swedish garage rock band that was formed in 1994 by Nicke Andersson (vocals and guitar), Andreas Tyrone "Dregen" Svensson (guitar), Kenny Håkansson (bass) and Robert Eriksson (drums). Andersson (sometimes known as Nick Royale) had been the drummer for death metal band Entombed and Dregen was taking a break from his full-time band Backyard Babies. Dregen and Eriksson had been roadies for Entombed, while Håkansson was a childhood friend of Andersson's. The Hellacopters were initially conceived as a side project for Andersson and Dregen, but it eventually became the main songwriting and performance vehicle for Andersson. The band, together with The Hives, is considered one of the most important Swedish bands in the garage rock revival and one of the most influential rock bands in Sweden. The band released their Swedish Grammi-winning debut album Supershitty to the Max! in 1996. Just before a tour opening for Kiss, the band recruited keyboardist and percussionist Anders Lindström (also known as Boba Fett or Boba) on a part-time basis; he would become a full-time member in 1999. After the album Payin' the Dues in 1998, Dregen left the band to return to Backyard Babies full-time, and Mattias Hellberg and Danne Andersson were recruited to complete the band touring responsibilities. After the release of Grande Rock, which featured additional guitar playing from both Lindström and Hellberg, Robert Dahlqvist was hired as a full-time lead guitarist in 1999. With the lineup now solidified, the band released three more studio albums and a cover album, with many EPs and limited edition releases as well. The Hellacopters disbanded amicably in 2008 so the members could move on to other projects. Eight years later, the band reassembled in 2016, initially for an exclusive performance at Sweden Rock Festival to celebrate the 20 year anniversary of their award-winning debut album Supershitty to the Max!. In October 2021 the band announced that they had signed with the record label Nuclear Blast to release a new album in the spring of 2022. The album, Eyes of Oblivion, was released on 1 April 2022. The group's latest album, Overdriver, was released on January 31, 2025.
Shares garage rock, hard rock, punk rock (subgenres); dive bar, basement show, road trip (atmosphere)
Shares garage rock, hard rock, punk rock (subgenres); dive bar, basement show, road trip (atmosphere)
Shares energetic, confident, rebellious (moods); raspy, raw, harmonized (vocal style)
Shares energetic, confident, rebellious (moods); dive bar, basement show, road trip (atmosphere)
Shares garage rock, hard rock, punk rock (subgenres); dive bar, basement show, road trip (atmosphere)
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