Helldorado is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band W.A.S.P., released in 1999. In a 2025 interview with eonmusic, Blackie Lawless said that the album's sound was a reaction to their previous release, Kill Fuck Die. "Helldorado was a rebellion, if you like, against what we had just gone through. It's like we don't want to go back to that place, we don't want to go back inside that pit, it's like; "we're out, we're going to have a celebration", and so that's really what Helldorado was; it was a celebration of getting your freedom back, getting your life back".
Background The album title is a coined word meant to evoke the image of a demonic automobile, and according to the band's central figure, Blackie Lawless, it is a play on the Cadillac Eldorado. In a 2001 interview, Lawless reflected on the musical direction of the album, stating that he "wanted to make a fun record" and that, because the previous album Kill Fuck Die had been "a really dark record," he wanted to create a contrast.
Reception
In Sweden, the album reached number 49 on the national chart, marking the band's first entry into the top 60 in four years since Still Not Black Enough (1995).swedishcharts.com - W.A.S.P. - Helldorado In Germany, it reached number 59 on the album chart dated May 31, 1999, becoming their first top-100 entry in the country in seven years since The Crimson Idol (1992).Offizielle Deutsche Charts
Steve Huey of AllMusic gave the album a rating of 2 out of 5, noting that although the band's sound had become somewhat heavier compared to their mid-to-late 1980s heyday, it remained unmistakably characteristic of them. A mini-review from CD Journal stated that this album sees the revival of W.A.S.P.'s relentless spirit alongside straightforward rock and roll.
Track listing All songs written by Blackie Lawless
Japanese edition bonus tracks
Personnel W.A.S.P. Blackie Lawless – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, producer Chris Holmes – lead guitar Mike Duda – bass guitar, backing vocals Stet Howland – drums, backing vocals
Production Bill Metoyer – engineer Eddy Schreyer, Gene Grimaldi – mastering at Oasis Mastering, Burbank, California Roy Z – technical support Kosh and Paul Pierandozzi – art direction
Charts Chart (1999) Peakposition
References
External links