Air Raid Serenades cover

Released 20 years ago

Air Raid Serenades

The Hellacopters · 2006

71 min · 22 tracks · hard rock

High-octane rock anthems blend roaring guitars with infectious hooks and a swaggering attitude throughout this energetic album.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    (Gotta Get Some Action) Now! — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its electrifying energy and catchy chorus, encapsulating the band's hard rock ethos.
  • →
    Soulseller — A standout track that combines driving rhythms with a haunting melody, reflecting a darker undertone amidst the energetic soundscape.
  • →
    Hopeless Case of a Kid in Denial — This song features engaging lyrics and a compelling narrative, showcasing the band's knack for storytelling through powerful riffs.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

58 /100
Treeline
Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong songwriting and energetic performances but lacks some cohesion in its extensive tracklist.

What we noticed

  • The first half of the album maintains a high-energy tempo with driving guitar riffs and anthemic choruses, while the second half introduces slower tracks that provide contrast.
  • Several tracks feature call-and-response vocals, enhancing the energetic feel and encouraging audience participation.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • high-energy sing-along moments
  • dynamic peaks and valleys
  • for road trips
  • quick bursts of excitement
  • playful irreverence throughout

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer slow, introspective tracks
  • seek long, soundscapes

Where this album fits

Career context
Air Raid Serenades marked The Hellacopters' fifth studio album, released in 2006 after a two-year hiatus. By this point, the band had established themselves as a key player in the Swedish rock scene, following their critically acclaimed album, By the Grace of God, which came out in 2002.
Stylistic neighbors
The Datsuns· The Hives· Turbonegro

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 (Gotta Get Some Action) Now! 3:16
  • 2 Ferrytale 3:11
  • 3 Born Broke 4:10
  • 4 Soulseller 3:12
  • 5 You Are Nothin’ 2:38
  • 6 Like No Other Man 3:13
  • 7 Long Gone Losers 2:45
  • 8 Move Right Out of Here 2:09
  • 9 The Devil Stole the Beat From the Lord 3:53
  • 10 Venus in Force 3:00
  • 11 Down Right Blue 4:32
  • 12 Crimson Ballroom 4:05
  • 13 Hopeless Case of a Kid in Denial 3:02
  • 14 Toys and Flavors 3:33
  • 15 No Song Unheard 4:00
  • 16 By the Grace of God 3:04
  • 17 Carry Me Home 3:41
  • 18 It’s Good but It Just Ain’t Right 2:51
  • 19 Turn the Wrong Key 2:24
  • 20 Everything’s on T.V. 3:14
  • 21 I’m in the Band 3:19
  • 22 Bring It on Home 2:12

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata