Hell In The Club - 'Joker In The Pack'

Rock Metal Machine
Dec 27, 2025
2 min read

The songs are energetic, and the album is crammed with big choruses, memorable guitar licks and a rebellious voice that stirs your inner renegade!

Demonic figure with horns holds a card in a dark room. Red and green attire. Text: "Hell in the Club, Joker in the Pack." Mysterious mood.

I’ve been following Hell In The Club since their 2011 debut album ‘Let The Games Begin’, and it’s hard to believe ‘Joker In The Pack’ is actually their seventh album. They have always been solid and reliable purveyors of melodic, heavy Sleaze Rock, even if they’ve never really attained a major hit. They keep their modest fanbase happy with their brand of Rock ‘n’ Roll that keeps the spirit of the eighties alive!

There is a significant change here with the introduction of a new vocalist, Terese Persson, whom you may know from Venus 5 and Infinite & Divine; I certainly do… as they are both great bands – go check them out! Whilst sonically and style wise, Hell In The Club remain the same, so established fans shouldn’t worry about them sounding radically different, but Persson’s vocals do add a different edge.

She has a bit of bite and snarl at times, which suits the sleazier elements of the songs, but she has a smoother vocal delivery overall which accentuates the more melodious moments. She still has that bite and danger too, so never fear, the band still boast that rebellious tone when they want to show it. I personally feel she is a better singer, and helps give the band a more distinguished impact, making them more memorable.

The songs are energetic, and the album is crammed with big choruses, memorable guitar licks and a rebellious voice that stirs your inner renegade! As you’d expect, there’s plenty of vocal harmonies accentuating those strong melodies and wailing guitar solos. ‘Joker In The Pack’ is instantly enjoyable, with songs that get the blood pumping and you rocking out!

It’s not a one-trick-pony album – yes, you have your Sleaze rockers like ‘New Desire’ and ‘Dirty Love’, but the emotionally-charged ‘The Ocean’ and the impactful ‘Fairytale’ show a deeper side.

This album is full of Rock ‘n’ Roll rebellion; think Mötley Crüe at their most dangerous. Hell In The Club have plenty of snarl and spit, but their melodic edge is cranked right up to give us huge choruses that Bon Jovi would be jealous of. These guys have always owed a lot to the Sleaze Rock of the eighties, so it shouldn’t surprise you when I say this album will tickle the fancies of all fans of the LA Strip sound of that decadent decade.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nis6V6vvK38

Reviewer: Paul Woodward

Label: Frontiers

Genre: Melodic Rock

Issue Reviewed In: 113

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