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Everyone in rock/metal business knows: the singers and guitarists get all the girls, fame and money. But what if a band where to emerge, where the underestimated bassist guitarists would be the heroes? One man, namely Markus Großkopf of Halloween fame, made this dream come true. He allied himself with other bass guitarists like from the notable german metal bands Rage, Destruction and Sodom, invited some guest singers like Apollo Papathanasio and Jesper Binzer and some guest drummers to form the band "Bassinvaders".
The songs on "Hellbassbeaters" vary very much, in musical style and in singing, depending on who actually wrote and played the song. As one could suspect, "thrashy" songs work with only bass guitars and drums way much better than lets say power metal songs, which beg to be played with a screaming guitar. Also the musical and lyrical quality of the songs ranges from really bad to mediocre. Some bassists aren't really up to the task, although on the best tracks you'll get quite an impression of what is technically possible with a bass guitar. Generally, the saying "Too many cooks spoil the broth" is more than true with "Hellbassbeaters". There are too many different (partially substandard) musicians and styles to deal with to give the album or the band an unique identity. With a missing leitmotif and Markus Großkopf as the only official member this record has more of a sampler character than that of a full-fledged band album.
Ultimately this average album fails to deliver, and although ambitioned it - rather than being a showcase of bass solo capabilities - shows that bass guitars can't stand on their own without one's ear constantly screaming "Give me more instruments!". So in the end the despised singers and guitarists will still get all the girls, fame and money, because - if they really wanted - could get all this without a bass guitar, which vice versa, so it seems, is impossible...
4/10
