VIKING SKULL – BORN IN HELL – GRAND  
Past a generic cover and a near-undistinguished name is a surprisingly good metal band. Featuring two Raging Speedhorn members and roadies Viking Skull’s debut full-length is chock full of raging (ha!) and irreverent hard rock and heavy metal with a deliberately politically incorrect bent. To sum, the band will appeal to those who get a kick from Jackyl to Motörhead to NWOBHM, but Viking Skull supplies its own gritty hard knocks. The title of the second song, Crank The Volume, says a lot as does the Black Sabbath riff that kicks it off. This song and You Can’t Kill Rock And Roll are slightly more melodious and have a little Maiden in them. Inject My Woman (With Love) is more along the lines of Guns ‘N Roses. Red Hot Woman reveals the band’s AC/DC influences while the band supplies wailing leads and prickly lyrics incessantly. Chariot and Deeds never had any luck selling albums, but if those bands, Circus Of Power or any of the aforementioned acts are in a lull and not releasing albums Born In Hell might just be the ticket. Viking Skull is a surprisingly collected band given its profile and background. – Ali “The Metallian”