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KATE’S ACID
Hellbender

High Roller (2026)
Rating: 7/10

Back in the 80s, speedy metalheads Acid were quite the cult act. They issued a trio of full-length gems, the best being the brace consisting of the self-titled debut and its follow-up, Maniac, both of which were issued in 1983. The Belgians released a third and final outing, Engine Beast, in 1985 and then split. Kate de Lombaert fronted Acid back then and now she’s running her own offshoot, Kate’s Acid, who formed in 2020.

Hellbender is the debut album from the quartet, which also features guitarist Geert Annys, bassist Camilo “Thunder Screamer” Ortega and drummer Ashley “Ash” Ysewyn. Obviously not quite recapturing the flair and rawness of old Acid, this is still an engaging and fun platter which kicks off with the fizzing title cut. It’s an ideal way for Kate and crew to introduce themselves; no gimmicks just straight forward high octane metal. The riffs are tight and precise, hastily weaving their magic alongside the equally energetic drums.

Kate’s voice is still a weapon with added husk and vibrato, but on this album she shows versatility too. On the mid-tempo ‘Taking Back My Wings’, Kate steadies her tone, crooning with a coolness to the cocksure riffs. The closing ‘Air Raid’, meanwhile, boasts balladic strains as Kate’s warbles effectively layer the slow-burn. It’s not the way I expected the album to end, but for those expecting a speed metal extravaganza then look elsewhere.

In spite of the vintage Iron Maiden-esque vim of ‘The Lightning Conductor’ and the emphatic strides of ‘Valkyrie’, this album has more in common with New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, especially on ‘Do Not Burn The Witch’ and the brawling biker barroom rocker ‘Riding Out’. It’s all rather unspectacular with each song following basic structures, and although I don’t see Hellbender making any notable charges into end of year lists, it’s still good to have Kate de Lombaert back in business.

Neil Arnold

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