SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE HECK – HECK YEAH!!

The Heck
Heck Yeah!!
Soundflat Records

Only two years after their debut release Who? The Heck!!!, this three-piece band from the North of the Netherlands is back with another album of 1960s-inspired garage rock: Heck Yeah!!

Recorded (appropriately enough) in their garage/rehearsal space by producer Bernard Gepken, Heck Yeah!! is a 14-song extravaganza of new garage rock. The band notes that their focus is on ‘writing future sixties pop classics, served with the power and intensity of punk’, and this album is a testament to that mission statement.

With the urgency of the leadoff tune, “Move!” we know that we are in for a wild ride. The guitar/bass/drums/vocals format is gold for The Heck, and they are able to keep the intensity high and the sounds varied, occasionally bringing in keys and organ to augment the basic sound.

Henri Keefman’s punk wail, and his solid and versatile guitar chops are a cornerstone of this band. Bassist and drummer René Katerbarg and Erik Berends (respectively) alternately hold things down and let them soar, resulting in an impressive overall sound. The Heck’s solid songs and musicianship do not disappoint.

Heck Yeah!! really grows on the listener with each successive spin, and its highlights are many. The straight-on rock of “Let Me Through” is cool, and ends in a fun tag in ¾ time. The title track, the mostly-instrumental “Heck Yeah!!”, also toys with time signatures, and features echo-heavy vocals. “Hit Me, Hit Me, Hit Me” also deserves a mention here, if for no other reason than it is 56 seconds of angsty punk fun. Songs such as “Guilty” which demonstrate maturity and depth in their writing, are a bit of a departure for the band, but manage to stay within their ’60s garage aesthetic.

This album is a treat. Open the windows. Turn up the volume. Play loud. Repeat.

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