The group started out under the name IN COLD BLOOD and it was under that name that the first demo, "Nailed", was recorded, which led to a record deal with NUCLEAR BLAST.
In May 1998, RAISE HELL entered the "Abyss studio" and recorded their first album named "Holy Target". Just before the release, the band changed their name to RAISE HELL. The release of "Holy Target" was followed by a European tour (with DISMEMBER, CHILDREN OF BODOM, NIGHT IN GALES and AGATHODAIMON) and also a gig at the massive metal festival Wacken Open Air (August of 1998).
In August 1999, RAISE HELL entered the studio again to record their second album "Not Dead Yet". This time, the studio session took place at Studio Fredman with Anders Fridén (IN FLAMES) as producer. After "Not Dead Yet" was released, the cult band DESTRUCTION heard the album and wanted RAISE HELL to support them for a mini tour. RAISE HELL gladly accepted and after a cool mini-tour with DESTRUCTION, Wacken Open Air stood at the door again (August 2000). The festival gig was a success for the band and was then followed by a European tour (with DESTRUCTION, HYPOCRISY, CREMATORY and KATAKLYSM) plus some club-gigs in Sweden.
The studio Flat Planet was booked in June 2002, and once again Anders Fridén (IN FLAMES), now with support by Fredrik Reinerdahl, as producers. The album was called "Wicked Is My Game". The release was in October 2002. In late autumn of 2002, RAISE HELL decided to get a new singer because Jonas Nilsson wanted to concentrate on his guitar playing. They decided to try an old friend of theirs, Jimmy Fjällendahl. He had been the singer of a local rock band called Driftaway. After just a few rehearsals, RAISE HELL could hear the capacity that Jimmy had and he almost immediately became a solid member of the band.
After three albums on NUCLEAR BLAST, the relationship came to an end, with which both parties were satisfied. A search for a new label was started and after some good offers, RAISE HELL finally decided to sign with BLACK LODGE (Sweden). At this point, Torstein realized that he no longer could put his full heart and soul into the band and therefore decided to leave RAISE HELL. There have never been any hard feelings. The member changes and label change came as a natural break for the band that resulted in nothing being heard from them in a couple of years except for a few live gigs.
In 2004, just after the signing with Black Lodge Records, two demo songs were recorded and they turned out so good that they ended up on a 7” limited vinyl single. In the summer of 2005, the recording of a new album started. This time it took place at Tyroon Production with Jörgen Svensson as producer. The album is titled "City of the Damned".
Death Race
Raise Hell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All engines powered up, there is no return
Feel the thrill of the speed, this is a Deathrace
Screaming wheels in the night, this is a Deathrace
(Coro:)
Wipe the dirt of your shoes, it's madness let loose
Push your beast to the limit, faster and faster you go
It's power pulls you back against the seat
I hope you know what you're doing
Feel the thrill of the speed, this is a Deathrace
Screaming wheels in the night, this is a Deathrace
(Coro)
Chased, but you feel safe
By steel you are embraced
Lights in your eyes
Caught you by surprise...
Crashed into a wall, you lost control, you failed
You paid the price, you learned what you might face
In a Deathrace
All lined up waiting for the gunshot to start the race
All engines powered up, there is no return
Feel the thrill of the speed, this is a Deathrace
Screaming wheels in the night, this is a Deathrace
(Coro)
The song "Death Race" by Raise Hell is an intense and thrilling track that delves into the world of high-speed car races that are dangerous and deadly. The lyrics start by describing the scene of the race, with all the drivers lined up, waiting for the gunshot to signal the start of the race. The engines are powered up, and there's no turning back. From there, the song is all about the adrenaline rush of the race—the thrill of speed and the sound of screaming wheels in the night.
The chorus of the song is a warning to those who are taking part in the race. It's madness let loose, and it's a death race. The drivers are pushing their beasts to the limit, going faster and faster, letting the power of the car pull them back against their seats. But there's a sense of uncertainty in the lyrics, with the singers asking if the drivers really know what they're doing and if they're prepared for the consequences of this death race.
The second verse explores the risks of the race, with the driver feeling safe in the steel embrace of their car until they're caught by surprise with lights in their eyes. The song reaches its climax with the driver crashing into a wall, losing control, and paying the ultimate price for their risky behavior. The song is a cautionary tale of the dangers of living life on the edge and embracing the rush of adrenaline.
Line by Line Meaning
All lined up waiting for the gunshot to start the race
Drivers are anxiously waiting for the start of the race, knowing it may lead to their demise.
All engines powered up, there is no return
The cars are ready to go, and there's no turning back now.
Feel the thrill of the speed, this is a Deathrace
Despite the danger and inevitable risk of death, there's an exhilaration and rush that comes with racing.
Screaming wheels in the night, this is a Deathrace
The wheels of the cars screech as they race at a dangerous pace through the dark night.
Wipe the dirt of your shoes, it's madness let loose
The danger and chaos that comes with this race is beyond comprehension, and wiping the dirt off one's shoes is just the beginning of what's to come.
Wipe that smile of your face, this is a Deathrace
There's nothing to smile about in this deadly competition, and any sort of carefree attitude is sure to lead to a swift demise.
Push your beast to the limit, faster and faster you go
Drivers must push their cars to the absolute max if they hope to even have a chance at winning this race.
It's power pulls you back against the seat
The sheer power of these cars is so intense that it'll pull drivers back against their seats as they go hurtling forward at breakneck speeds.
I hope you know what you're doing
This is no simple race, and drivers need to be experienced and knowledgeable if they hope to even survive, let alone win.
Chased, but you feel safe
Despite the constant danger lurking around every turn, drivers can't help but feel a sense of safety and protection from their powerful vehicles.
By steel you are embraced
The metal of the car seems to provide a sense of comfort and security, even amidst the chaos and danger of the race.
Lights in your eyes
The headlights of the other cars illuminate the night, causing a distraction and potentially leading to a fatal mistake.
Caught you by surprise...
Even the most seasoned drivers can be caught off guard by the sudden and unexpected events of this race.
Crashed into a wall, you lost control, you failed
One wrong move or an unfortunate event can lead to a catastrophic result, and this is exactly what happens when a driver crashes into a wall, loses control, and fails to finish the race.
You paid the price, you learned what you might face, in a Deathrace
With death looming around every turn, drivers must be prepared to pay the ultimate price for their love of thrill and competition in this dangerous Deathrace.
Contributed by Carson S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ashitaka
I've been searching for this song for many years. I never knew the artist, only known as "death race" from when it was released. Fuck it's been too long since I've heard this shit.
Dmitry 'Motorbreath' Vovnyah
Well, I am glad that I could help in your searches. I would also advise checking out their discography - it's some pretty rad stuff drifting from Melodic Death/Thrash through pure Thrash and towards Heavy/Thrash hybrid by the 2006 and the 2015 albums.
Vorname Nachname
Still a great mosh!