Although
Grim Reaper was never in a class with
Judas Priest or
Iron Maiden, the band was definitely underrated -- its three albums were solid examples of
British fantasy metal. Produced by
Max Norman,
Rock You to Hell was the last of the three and is easily recommended to anyone who fancies
metal that is forceful yet melodic. This 1987 album came at a time when
MTV was in love with
pop-metal hair bands, like
Bon Jovi and
Poison, and
thrash was the rage in the
metal underground --
Grim Reaper was neither
pop-metal nor
thrash, and the British wisely stuck with the type of
fantasy metal they were known for. More melodic than most
thrash, but a lot heavier than
pop-metal, testosterone-driven tracks like
"You'll Wish That You Were Never Born," "When Heaven Comes Down," and
"Waysted Love" demonstrate that melody and brute force can be a powerful combination. Some of the tunes underscore
Grim Reaper's interest in the occult and horror movies -- like
"Night of the Vampire" -- but the lyrics come across as comic rather than disturbing. While
Slayer and
Deicide took their fascination with the occult so seriously that their songs really could be genuinely disturbing,
Grim Reaper is more entertaining than anything. ~ Alex Henderson
