Hell (British band)
Hell is an English heavy metal band from Derbyshire, formed in 1982 by members of Race Against Time and Paralex. They became known for their dramatic stage show, including proto-corpse paint, a gargoyle pulpit, and a pyro Bible. The band built a cult following through underground tape trading, even though the mainstream media largely ignored them in the 1980s. They signed to Mausoleum Records, but the label went bankrupt before their debut album could be made. Kev Bower left the band, and vocalist Dave G. Halliday died by carbon monoxide poisoning. Halliday had taught Andy Sneap to play guitar; Sneap would later become a renowned producer and a member of Sabbat.
The group reunited in 2008 and signed with Nuclear Blast. Their first full-length album, Human Remains, was released in May 2011 and reached No. 46 on the German chart in its first week. For the 2011 recording, Kev Bower and his brother David Bower (David Beckford, the actor) joined, with David taking the lead vocals after Halliday’s death. Andy Sneap joined as a permanent member and producer. Hell played a string of European and UK shows, earning the “Best Mainstage Performance” at Bloodstock Open Air in 2011 and Sweden Rock Magazine’s Album of the Year for Human Remains.
In 2012 they toured with Accept and appeared at many festivals, continuing to build their reputation. The band started work on a second album, Curse and Chapter, and released a live DVD from a Derby show as a bonus. They continued performing across Europe in 2013 and 2014, including a Hyde Park show with Black Sabbath and charity cycling for NSPCC, Teenage Cancer Trust and Nordoff Robbins. A UK tour with Saxon was interrupted briefly by drummer Nigel Glockler’s medical emergency, but the band finished the run and played festivals again, including Hammerfest 2015.
By late 2015 Hell announced they would begin work on their third studio album. They also supported Accept on a London Forum show. In 2016 they spent much of the year in the studio writing new material, and after dealing with a problematic booking agent, they joined Loudnoise Productions.
Musically, Hell is often linked to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, though they distance themselves from that label. Their sound blends thrash, power, symphonic, gothic, speed, doom and black metal, with occult and dark themes in the lyrics. They use keyboards and sampling to add depth and create atmosphere, and their songs feature complex tempo and key changes along with theatrical interludes.
Current members are Tony Speakman, Tim Bowler, Kev Bower, Andy Sneap and David Bower. Past members include Dave G. Halliday and Sean Kelley. Hell remains active, continuing to release music and tour.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 17:06 (CET).