Reviews (page 2 of 7)
Never heard of them but surprisingly fun
Pretty good album! I have heard of them but never actually listened to them but I liked it quite a bit!
08/04/2026 I'm happy to give this 4 stars knowing the influence it had on the genre. It's a bit weak in places, but an okay album nevertheless. Spotify listeners: 120k
Had never heard of this band before and I really liked this album!
I’ve heard that these guys were massively influential to a lot of big bands including GNR. I also know that Vince Neil was responsible for killing one of them so there ya go. The influence on bands like skid row, GNR and Motley Crüe is very obvious. Hanoi Rocks sound like the Clash mixed with glam rock and mixed with pop music melodies. Pop music melodies were a key part in the success for bands like Poison and many more glam bands to come. How can people not like this band??They sound so futuristic. If the whole glam era of the 80s sounded like Hanoi rocks, people would look back with a lot more fondness for the genre. What would these guys achieved if Razzle didn’t get killed? They sound so good.
4/5 really good glam metal
Unashamedly rock in a kitschy style with influences from rock, pop and punk. I wouldn't be surprised if some of these tracks turned up in a movie soundtrack
pretty good!
Jeg er svak for finsk glampunk ja. Dette er arven etter New York Dolls godt ivaretatt.
4 out of 5. This album was a fun time.
Sono stato molto generoso, però ci sono stati album molto peggiori a cui ho dato 3 stelle e questo si fa ascoltare.
they invented 80s hair metal. This is enjoyable.
Lovely surprise, great fun.
Another I’d never heard of, and unlike any hair metal I’ve ever listened to. Knew of Razzle from Motley Crue’s The Dirt, RIP.
Early hair band entrant. I still haven't forgiven Vince Neal for essentially killing Razzle
Yeah enjoyed this tbf
I'm very much aware of the legend of Hanoi Rocks and their outsized influence on 80s hair metal that followed, but first time ever hearing them. Pleasantly surprised. More than a little cheesy at times but impressed by their instrumentation and style. And I know they were a huge influence on Izzy Stradlin - not only the coolest member of GNR but in my belief system the guy responsible for the songwriting magic of Appetite (and his departure the reason GNR stopped being so good) - and for that I am thankful. More of a fascinating history lesson than a great record.
pretty good 80's rock that manages to stand out from the crowd. I actually wound up enjoying this a fair amount considering I knew nothing of them going in.
This was a pretty standard 80s rock album and I was only going to give it a 3. But then those saxophones hit and those church bells hit and damn this album grew on me. Not an all time great but more enjoyable than some!
i've only ever known hanoi rocks by who they influenced. _back to mystery city_ is a marvelously strange concoction of punky, pub rock, even a hint of goth with its keyboards, all slathered in glam rock. i don't know if i'll ever listen to this again, but i won't rule it out and will listen to other stuff by them. i was skeptical when i saw this as today's album, but i left as an interested listener
Hårrock e blant de rareste musikksjangeran æ vet om, tror æ, den e helt klart av sin tid.
This was pretty good
I thought this was going to be standard 80s hair metal (which to be fair, I would have been fine with) but this is really good. Even my wife who hates that shit enjoyed it. Also, fuck Vince Neil for killing the drummer.
I mean it’s alright.
Initially I was just confused by this. I've heard the name of the band but after minor research I note this is not an album seen very favourably. Then the first two songs go from "okay this is sort of nice oh and suddenly it's insane". But I appreciate the sound is constantly changing. Honestly all things considered I could really see myself liking this if I'm in the right mood or doing the right activity. I anticipated a sound more akin to Europe with the hair and the hard rock/glam mix but this was... something entirely different. Sidenote the glam genre is very heavily weighed and not very well reviewed. Especially considering for a FACT I know there are suede albums on this list and not in the genre. Anyway, I think this album is condensed fun in a bottle. While I may not listen to it day to day and it is very much standing in the shadows of giants considering when it released, I could never bring myself to openly dislike this album. Also worth noting I see the influences and importance of this album. I see how this leads to bands like Guns and Roses and Skid Row, bands I like a lot and are very important to my taste. Songs like "Until I Get You" really show there is substance with that style and while on some level if I heard this blind I could probably have told you the year it released pretty accurately I don't think that's a bad thing. Ultimately I think this is pretty enjoyable if you approach with an open mind, even if the one two punch of the first two songs is a little nuts. While maybe not the best aged or most incredible music written in 1983 it deserves some level of attention for its important to the genre because it literally influenced Guns and Roses and you CAN tell. Best Songs: Until I Get You (Seriously just a great song) Worst songs: N/A Rank compared to everything else so far: 48/61 (below Daydream Nation, above Coat of Many Colors)
Classic glam rock sound. Razzle is gone too soon
3.5 but appreciate the early GNR vibes
Really nice listening to some European music. Love the rock and roll of the album. Made me want to discover this band further. Would listen to again.
Way better than expected. Ive seen them as a Motley crue from wish (brrr), but they were actually way better. Gonna check out their earlier stuff too.
The first song being a fake out was actually brilliant! Super punk, which was fantastic given how clearly Hanoi Rock's only goal was to have fun. Back to Mystery City is a fun mix of punk, glam, and rock. I mean, I'd even call this album campy! I say this out of love because I quite enjoyed it. I mean, "Malibu Beach Nightmare" was silly, but the piano and sax in the instrumental section were dynamite! So even if they had fun and it's a silly album, it's at least well done. 3.5, rounding up.
It rocks
Lots of good sounds!
Embarrassed to say I've never heard this before. Guess I was too busy listening to Shout at the Devil. More 80's rock, please! 4.75
I was worried when I heard the first track, what’s wifh all the bird sounds… but after that I really liked this, 3..5 rounds to 4 stars.
Second best band I’ve heard from Finland, just behind that cha cha cha Eurovision entry that was completely robbed a fee years ago. I liked the first minute or two of all these tracks, but they often overstayed their welcome
Fun. 4
I can see why Hanoi Rocks is on the list. This record marked a pivotal moment in their career, blending elements of punk, glam rock, and 70s pop into a unique sound that influenced future Sunset Strip metal bands like Guns N’ Roses and Poison. A guilty pleasure that brings me back to the 1980s! 4⭐️
This is one of those sleazy albums I just can’t help but enjoy. It’s a gritty mix of glam punk and hard rock, and what’s really cool is that it came before glam metal and hair rock really took off. In fact, this album is often considered one of the first glam and hair metal records of the 1980s, and it had a huge influence on bands like Mötley Crüe, Poison, and Guns N’ Roses. Like I said, it leans heavily into that sleaze rock vibe, so it’s definitely not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but for those who get it, there’s a lot to appreciate.
Onko ainoa suomalaisedustus? Torille!
Sorry I loved this
When I got this album its description and cover didn’t appeal to me at all and I was prepared for a head scratching member of this list, but it surprised me. I expected a cheesy 80’s punk/hair metal hybrid, but I heard a record that I could have easily mistaken for a lost Replacements album. It’s one of the better discoveries of this project so far from a band I’d never heard of before.
From and album cover and name of the band I thought this was going to be some awful 80s synth thing, but this was actually great. Was always on the verge of going full cheese, but this was just a really fun album to listen to. Surprisingly great bass lines on this one.
Apparently... 💥 Why Back to Mystery City is 1001-worthy 1. It’s the band’s creative peak. This 1983 record is generally considered the definitive Hanoi Rocks album — the moment where their street-punk energy, glam swagger, and melodic songwriting all came together. Earlier albums were rawer; later ones more polished. Back to Mystery City nails the balance. 2. It bridged punk, glam and hard rock before anyone else did. Hanoi Rocks fused the attitude of the Sex Pistols with the hooks of Mott the Hoople and the flash of early Aerosmith. That mix directly inspired the next wave of glam-metal bands — especially Guns N’ Roses, who cited Hanoi Rocks as their template for Appetite for Destruction. 3. It’s packed with cult-classic songs. Tracks like “Malibu Beach Nightmare,” “Mental Beat,” “Until I Get You,” and the title track showed real sophistication beneath the sleaze. They’re full of restless youth, romance, and desperation — what Michael Monroe called “the beautiful chaos of being alive.” 4. It captured a global moment in rock. Recorded in London and produced by Dale Griffin (of Mott the Hoople), the album gave European glam a new identity just before MTV and Sunset Strip rock exploded. You can hear the DNA of this record in bands from The Cult to Skid Row. 5. It’s historically influential. Without Back to Mystery City, the entire glam-metal movement of the mid-’80s would look and sound different. It’s cited by Slash, Nikki Sixx, and Duff McKagan as a direct influence — Duff even said seeing Hanoi Rocks live “changed everything.”
Very good. Cool. Hard rock. Glam metal. Like Kiss but i might even say it's a little better than their average song (but Kiss hits are like no other). It's a little more garage it's a little more real. i like it but probably not as much as i should
Upbeat and authentic, it feels like the band is having fun. Maybe a bit basic sounding, but apparently they're on this list for their influence in glam metal. Tracks to Track: Sailing Down the Tears
Fun! I never heard of Hanoi Rocks before but I liked listening to it. I enjoyed the saxophone that was added in some songs. Favorite songs: Back to Mystery City, Until I Get You, Malibu Beach Nightmare
Vilken överraskning, en genre jag vanligtvis ringaktar. Detta svänger och är lite lagom skitigt. Otroligt mycket bättre än Guns n roses. Köper gärna ett ex av Hanoi rocks om jag ramlar över en vinyl
Not bad!
Lovely punk rock album!
One of the pioneers of the "makeup rock". It's actually pretty good. 4 stars.
Classic suomirock. One more star for the haircuts!
Another one I didn't know, but I'd listen to them again.
This is one of those sleazy albums I just can’t help but enjoy. It’s a gritty mix of glam punk and hard rock, and what’s really cool is that it came before glam metal and hair rock really took off. In fact, this album is often considered one of the first glam and hair metal records of the 1980s, and it had a huge influence on bands like Mötley Crüe, Poison, and Guns N’ Roses. Like I said, it leans heavily into that sleaze rock vibe, so it’s definitely not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but for those who get it, there’s a lot to appreciate.
This one is a lot of fun. You can hear a little classic 70's rock influence as well as how they pushed the boundaries into hair and glam rock of the 80's. High energy and surprisingly enjoyable!
Álbum muito bom. Sonoridade bem diversa com aquela pegada do punk rock e um pouco de progressivo.
This kicked ass more than it should have for me. I think it might be kinda bad? But I loved it. Back to mystery citayyyyyy
Strange Boys Play Weird Openings - NR/10 Malibu Beach Nightmare - 8/10 Mental Beat - 8/10 Tooting Bec Wreck - 10/10 Until I Get You - 9/10 Sailing Down The Tears - 10/10 Lick Summer Love - 7/10 Beating Gets Faster - 8/10 Ice Cream Summer - 7/10 Back To Mystery City - 10/10
scratchy and weird and loud and FINNISH? incredible stuff
This was fun! I can't tell if some songs sounded familiar because I have maybe heard them or because this sounded a bit like The Clash. 3.5 rounding up
Very solid and fun!
Glam Metal as it should be, easy listening with lyrics that are as creative as my left toe.
Toca hoy nuevamente una banda completamente desconocida. Glamera a morir, me recuerda con el segundo track a un sonido con atisbos a los Ramones pero más relacionado al glam rock. El mood se mantiene y por momentos se vuelve más post-punk ("Tooting Bec Wreck" es un gran ejemplo, que me recuerda desde las voces a Nick Cave, salvando las distancias enormes). Gran recomendación ochentosa. Hasta mañana
I really enjoyed their vibe. Right in my wheelhouse.
This was kinda random, Finnish, 80s hair metal, but it left a really good impression on me. All the tracks were well done and fun to listen to, and not something you can say about most hair metal.
Glam rock in its rawest form, I loved this album!
Really enjoyed this album.
*4.5 Favorite: Tooting Bec Wreck I really enjoyed this album. It felt like the perfect mix between 80's and a little more of the rock that I like fused together. This is the perfect thing to jam to on a summer road trip.
Très surpris du nombre d'écoute pour se retrouver dans la liste. Par contre, l'histoire derrière le groupe est super intéressante; un beau Rabbit Hole. Pour la musique, j'aime beaucoup l'énergie, et la vibe "beach rock" Glam, ayant grandi avec les sons de Kiss, Guns and Roses, etc. Quelques sons et licks très intéressants qui te gardent attentifs. Solide! La seule chose que j'aurais à reprocher est que les beats sont parfois simplets, et la production qui est moyenne.
8/10, super fun!
“Malibu beach nightmare” is a fantastic song. What a way to open up the album. “Sailing down the tears” is another fantastic song. I was always aware of this band but never really heard songs by them. Listening to this album I’m guessing it’s because no one knew how to market them. They look like hair/glam metal, but sound like the Ramones with a heavy pop influence. There are great songs on here and as I listen I wonder how many of these were either in an 80s movie or inspired the song in an 80s movie. “Beating gets faster” has a UK pop punk sound. And this song reminds me of “out ta get me” by GnR, so clearly GnR were listening to this album. And that makes sense because this leans heavily towards rock. “Ice cream summer” sounds like “modern world” by the Jam(?). Definitely a UK influence here. Ok, so the closer and title title track is one of my least favorites, but there are parts I really like. On the “oooohhh” part is sounds simultaneously like the Clash and the Ramones.
Glam but with actual substance
Solid hair metal
In general good album, but there are some parts that i didnt really enjoy
Sleazy stupid rockin fun
4/5
Quite enjoyed this. Some good tongue in cheek tracks. Reminiscent of New York Dolls
Ended up really liking this. Definitely not music I typically gravitate towards. But this one was fun. Great musicianship too.
This one surprised me!! I really enjoyed it!
Enjoyed my day with Hanoi Rocks. It's not for me to question why it's on the list. But it is and I'm happy about that. Fun fact : My stepbrothers' band supported them on their 1984 UK tour. Sadly I never went to any of the gigs.
Beter dan alle andere glam metal uit de tijd. Niet super boeiend maar wel geinig.
Какой-то глэм-панк-хард-рок, хз как описать
I always wondered what these guys sounded like. I expected more of a glam metal sound, like Motley Crue, but it's closer to Mott the Hoople or the Clash. Has horns and harmonica. Title track sounds has the Mony Mony...riff (is that would you'd call it?) I liked the album OK, but it's no Shout at the Devil, which came out the same year. I don't know if Shout at the Devil or Metal Health are on this list, but they should be, especially considering this one is here.
I want to hate this, but I can't. And I'm not happy about it. It's weirdly fun and catchy. It's a big old mess and it's all over the place. Is it a joke? What is happening?
For some reason I expected lame 80s hair metal, but this is a lot closer to the New York Dolls. Very pleasant surprise, will definitely listen again.
This was pretty good! I had never heard of these guys but really enjoyed it.
Never forgave what Motley Crue did to their drummer.
Good
thought i would hate this when i saw someone call this "glam punk" but It's actually really dumb and fun in the vein of turbonegro or the aquabats
I like it!
Great rock album with a nice bass. It already breathes in some space of the typical 1980s sound but is also somewhat tied to decent prog elements of the 1970s.
Day484 - it does rock. rip razzle
This album is the best of Glam. Hanoi Rocks was a bridge between Crue and Poison. Really tragic because they should still be rockin today.
Not bad.
Arrrgghh, it’s albums like this that make me wish we had a ten point rating scale. It’s fun and there are some great riffs and decent poppy moments. Better than a 3 but not good enough for a 4. I guess that makes it a 3.5 then
Solid album. Good energy and some fun guitar solo and drums.
Kinda enjoyed this album as a teenager, but i had to refreshen my memory and listen to it again before rating it. It's a solid rock'n'roll album. A-side is really strong, but there are mostly fillers on the b-side. Maybe worth 3,5 starts.
Surprisingly good. You can see the influences of Mötley Crüe Guns N’ Roses. Would listen again.
In context of the time and place of this LP, these guys were on the way to being a part of the same scene as many others who went on to great success like Ratt, Motley Crue, Cinderella etc. In the 80s this was a new thing, so judging it from todays eyes/ears isnt really fair. They coulda been greater!
Loved it. Not what I was expecting. I would say they arre Glam punk and I am here for it!
Cool songs!!! music!! Until I get you - BANGER
Didn't think I was going to like this. But it was a fun little noise blast.
Płyta brzmiała dla mnie lekko egzotycznie i po zgooglowaniu tematu okazało się, że to fiński zespół, a płyta została wydana przez japońskie studio. Cały krążek ma bardzo świeże brzmienie i po prostu przyjemnie się tego słucha, porządny kawałek rocka lat 80'.
It sure does rock.
This band supposedly influenced 80's hair metal. But this album is way more creative and musically interesting than any of those bands. The songs lack super catchy melodies and it took me two listens to adjust my ears to it. I think the instrumentation is great (piano and sax make appearances) and the songwriting is pretty creative with great energy.
Apple Music mysteriously does not have this album on its platform, so I picked another, Two Steps From The Move, released shortly after this one in 1984. Finnish Glam Rock, let’s go! Sounds Motley Crue-ish. I’m not slamming it. I love the Crue. These songs are pop metal, full of hungry vigor and I highly approve.
Note: I think the order of this album on Spotify is messed up after the first three tracks. The lyrics of some of the songs weren't lining up with what they were singing, so I switched to the full album on YouTube. Update: the full album order also seems messed up on YouTube, so I am absolutely confused and don't know if I'm listening to the full thing or if half of these are even songs that are on this album. Update to my update: I sought out the individual songs on YouTube and think I finally listened to the right songs, which are most definitely wrong on Spotify and the YouTube full album. The first three and last three tracks are correct, but the middle four (Tooting Bec Wreck, Until I Get You, Sailing Down the Tears, and Lick Summer Love) are not the right songs. Despite the confusion and excessive toiling I had to put in to listen to the correct thing... This is a pretty lovable album. Feels like they just rock hard without thinking or trying too hard. And that's ok. An album doesn't have to be a masterpiece to be thoroughly enjoyable. I also appreciate that they reflected on Lick Summer Love and correctly assessed it being an awful slime-ball. Shows growth! Also, RIP to their drummer Razzle, whose death seems to have stopped the band in their tracks, just as the train was really getting rolling. Another tragic loss in the music industry.
This was a fun one. They felt more new wave than 80s hair metal.
вроде обычный говнарский глэм рок, но мне понрав
Is this glam punk? A bit of fun, I enjoyed it
Seemed like connective tissue between English punk and sunset strip hair metal
What a cool/interesting/enjoyable album. Firstly, how did I live and get wrecked countlesss times in Tooting Bec and Broadway for years, without knowing about that song!? Secondly, I had never really twigged the progression between post-punk and glam/hair metal so much before. This definitely feels like a missing link album, and who knew that came out of Finland. Thirdly, it’s just a cracking fun album, first 4 tracks absolutely bangers. Mental Beat is the best for me, and you can see its influence on more modern punk/garage bands, The Hives in particular (the Scando influence is strong). The album is less strong in the latter half but ends on a banger which is a belting homage to punk/Bowie etc. Thanks list.
3.5
Another fun surprise and a picualer bridge between glam rock and glam metal. It has the added benefit of being unpolished with touches of post-punk.
Fun sounding Glam Rock, only heard bits of Hanoi Rocks over the years, happy to give this a go, not understanding the bad reviews by other users. Stand out tracks: - Malibu Beach Nightmare - Mental Beat - Tooting Bec Wreck - Until I get you - Beating gets faster - Back to Mystery City
Good vibes
A good album. I wasn't super into it, but this had good energy. Fun instrumentals and a decent vocals. 'Back to Mystery City' takes my fave pick.
A lot of silly fun, I enjoyed it.
Blends the better elements of 80s alt-pop with touches of punk for enjoyable results!
Oväntat bra. Kommer absolut lyssna mer på Hanoi Rocks.
4.33 ★★★★
Super fun and catchy and really reminded me of New York Dolls/Johnny Thunders stuff. I really liked "Malibu Beach Nightmare" and "Tooting Bec Wreck". 4 stars.
Oh wow, cover mi je vrh 😁 ne očekujem puno, ali me jako zanima. Dosta pank glemerski, tako sam nekako i zamišljala album. Nezz, ja sam jedno vrijeme intenzivno brijala na to, iako sad kužim da kvalitetom nije na nekoj wow razini, meni je to i dalje amusing. Volim to razdoblje, jbg, i u rocku, i u panku i u popu.😁 Ovo nekako ima elemente svega toga. Zanimljivo da nisam naletila na njih nikad prije. Sviđaju mi se neobični prijelazi u ritmu i melodiji, s te strane mi se čine dosta originalni zapravo. Kul su mi surfi dijelovi i orijentalni zvukovi usred svega.Vrh mi je back vokal na Until I get you (i stvarno zvuči kao back Floydima, familiar boja glasa nekako). Ta stvar me isto dosta podsjeća na Classix Nouveau, možda mi zato tako dobro sjeda. Nezz, za razliku od većine albuma dosad, meni ovo nije loše i daleko od neslušljivog. Bogato je, neobično, ne zvuči treš, ima elemente više žanrova, zabavno mi je. Doduše, mogu zamisliti da ljudima koji nisu skloni panku ili 80s ovo neće biti privlačno. Htjela sam dati nižu ocjenu prvo, ali realno ovo mi je jedan od boljih albuma koje sam dosad slušala (izuzev petica, naravno). Ne mogu reći to za baš sve pjesme (prvo dio albuma mi je bolje legao), ali overall mi je ovo 4/5 ili 7/10.
Awesome so far. How have I not heard this before?
Cool Peacemaker
Suomi mainittu! Siis hieno bändi mutta ei tämä nyt näiden paras levy ole??? 4/5
Pakkohan sitän on siniristilippua vähän heiluttaa ja todeta, että hyvä räminälevyhän se tässä. 4/5
Wow. Now THIS is a great justification for this list. A band I heard of but never heard. Instantly the best glam metal band I have ever heard and the only one I have ever liked. Their story is somewhat intertwined with Motley Crüe's, and I mistakenly lumped them into the same bucket so very pleased to be corrected now. Much more creative and interesting than Crüe, to me at least. I am looking forward to checking these guys out further.
Great rock album. That classic 80's rock will never get old and always sounds fresh. Never heard of them but will listen to their other stuff.
I thought this was a lot of fun. It’s not breaking any ground but it’s catchy and pretty consistent. Really liked Tooting Bec Wreck and Lick Summer Love
Never heard of this band before. This album took a few tracks to heat up but was fun when it got there. "Lick Summer Love" rocked as did the intro of "Beating Gets Faster".
This was so much fun. Upbeat, cool guitar lines, easy listening. I may actually check out some of their other stuff
Glam metal with a saxophone? Sign me up
I enjoyed this album a lot. It's nothing revelatory, but it is good, cheesy hair metal, brimming with camp. However, while I get that salacious lyrics are a hallmark of the genre, the lyrics occasionally dip into misogyny and creepiness ("I can see by the way you walk you've never been with a man before") in a way that I found jarring. Part-and-parcel for the time, I know, but off-putting to listen to now. "Until I Get You" is an absolute banger though.
Glam rock. Está bien. Venga, un 4.
Está chulo.
Fun ride, nothing made want to come back
I don't think this is a good album at all - but I do think it's a pretty fun album. The lyrics are intensely bad, at least for the 2-3 songs of which I read them. Maybe some 16-year olds will find them touching. The different intensity in vocal delivery between the backing and main vocals on Lick Summer Love was pretty weird. Probably the backing female vocalist being the main vocalist for the whole album would have been a notable improvement, maybe even 5 stars. At least it would go a long way in helping the band sound less like a teenager garage band. For all the criticism, the album still has a bunch of really solid hooks and it seems like fun pub or rock bar background music. So if that was the goal, they achieved it. The instrumental delivery is mostly on point, especially the guitars and occasional keyboard lines are quite good.
Really good bridge to thrash from classic rock
3.8 - I liked this, need to maybe check it out again sometime
Fantastic, weird 80's glam punk. Similar to New York Dolls or Motley Crue. There is actually a tie in with Motley Crue and this band. Razzle, the drummer for Hanoi Rocks was killed in a car accident in '84. The car was driven by Motley Crue singer, Vince Neil. Favourite songs: Until I Get You, Back to Mystery City, Lick Summer Love, Beating Gets Faster, Malibu Beach Nightmare, Sailing Down the Tears, Tooting Bec Wreck Least favourite songs: Ice Cream Summer 4/5
Está chulo.
pretty rocking, really. 4 stars.
Had not heard this before but listening to this made me go and listen to other releases by them.
The album art makes me cringe a bit, but these guys from Finland are right on top of the developments of Glam Metal. As someone who grew up loving Glam Metal (and still listen to it occasionally), I can't deny that this made me bop my head. Observation: When your rhythm guitarist is called Nasty Suicide, it shows how tough these guys thought they were. That's pretty funny forty years after.
This was really fun! Worth another listen and a couple of real bangers, like mental beat and beating gets faster
When it came to Back to Mystery City, Initially, i didn't have the best feelings towards it, During the first half, It was alright but the voice and some of the instruments were not exactly the best sounding, They were sometimes annoying and could be a bit too much. Then, the second half came, and my god was it an improvement. Most of the stuff that had made some of the first half annoying was all gone by the second half as well as it showing some great guitar work and interesting musical ideas. This was probably one of the biggest examples of a turn around enough to raise this album from a 2 to a 3.5 Best Song: Back To Mystery City Worst Song: Tooting Bec Wreck
I'm not sure why this website hates glam so much (besides Bowie), but I don't care. This album was fun and inarguably influenced some pretty substantial acts, and also incorporated many influences that I loved. Lick Summer Love sounds like it could be on Machine Gun Etiquette, and I love it.
Not at all what I expected. I assumed it'd be some butt rock stuff, but this was actually catchy and groovin'. I enjoyed this one a lot. 4/5
Underrated and underappreciated. This influenced so much of what I listened to in the mid-to-late-Eighties. Listening to it now, it's a shame I didn't listen to more Hanoi Rocks back then. I would have been a much better-informed Hair Metal fanatic.
Do I like Hair Metal?? Favourite Track: Beating Gets Faster.
Hard/glam had never ever been my thing, but these finnish dudes are REALLY listenable. 4 out of 5, which is the highest i can mark this genre
Pretty cool 80s rock album - the Finnish know how to rock. (plus a song dissing south London is always extra nice). 3.5
Oh this is so great. I knew nothing about this band and had no idea what to expect but this was such good fun. Fave tracks: Malibu Beach Nightmate, Tooting Bec Wreck.
Had a bit of trepidation about this one - hair metal and cock rock, which is what I was assuming Hanoi Rocks were, really isn't my jam. Plus, my first serious girlfriend was Finnish and she always hated on them for being the most well known Finnish band, internationally, so I guess I inherited some prejudice, heh. Turns out this was pretty fun! The first half of the album is a lot stronger than the second, but still. Wikipedia calls this glam punk, and yeah, I can dig it. It's possible Peacemaker has warmed me up to their schtick, too. Fave tracks - "Mental Beat" is awesome. Dug "Tooting Bec Wreck", too...
I kept feeling like I have heard these songs before. Which makes Hanoi Rocks derivative (in some cases) or trendsetting (in others). I heard a lot of my alt rock favs in their production and arrangements.
fun epic sweet creative youthful delightful a little vapid but qite endearingly. rock n roll punk executed with perfect sincerity. the Scandinavians are mental
Nice Melody.
I enjoyed it. Great punk music.
Nice album, I like this type of rock quite a bit. Not sure if it's full on glam but sounds a little more modern than other hair bands from this era. My favorite was probably Malibu Beach Nightmare.
Fun grimy rock. Some catchy things on here.
Glam Metal is good, and it's interesting to listen to this and think about its' reverberations into the world. A shame about Razzle their drummer, the band had so much potential with this album, but this album still stands as a big success.
A bit of a Brit pop punk kind of vibe. Gave me some Ramones feel. 4.5
Ooh, I liked this one. I've heard the band name many a time, but I never took the time to delve into their music. 80s glam rock with lots of energy. Will listen again.
I think this is an album that I might have been less interested in if I hadn't read some of the background. Knowing that this band was highly influential on the hair metal bands of the 80s, especially Guns N Roses, provides a lot of useful context when listening to it. Sonically, the album is really good. It's wel-produced, and the songs are fun with a lot of energy. So much of what makes hair metal fun is found here, and I can't really think of anywhere else I heard a lot of these motifs before this album. I don't know that this is an album that I would have ever picked up on my own, but fitted into its proper context, it's an easy album to appreciate 4/5
Det her album var superfedt allerede fra det første nummer. Jeg kunne hel sikkert finde på at vende tilbage til det senere.
You can't talk about Hanoi Rocks without mentioning Vince Neil. Ok. Done. Moving on... Back to Mystery City isn't isn't glam rock-y enough and that's the surprise here. There's no soup-y overproduced love ballads or high-pitched crooning. It's dirty, lo-fi and relatively basic. Put this against the other glam rock bands of the day, I'd choose this.
With the teased up hair and glam description I kept waiting for this album to get cheesy, but it never came. This blows Mötley Crüe, RATT, Poison, Whitesnake, and the like out of the water.
I enjoyed this album far more than I expected. It’s cheesy at times, sure, but it’s like a more distorted take on new wave and New Romantics, and I’m here for that.
ah, another fourth studio album and a band that references itself in song. I could see myself loving this punk rock sound back in the day if I had my hands on this album. pretty derivative sound, but still pretty good.
Obviously not an album that takes itself very seriously, but was still fun all the same. Kinda raucous, kinda dirty minded. But a fun romp throughout. In a weird way, it kind of reminded me of the New York Dolls and the Replacements, very similar energy. I'm not sure I feel like it is a particularly important or influential album, but still fun all the same.
Glam rock. Está bien. Venga, un 4.
4.0
My Mrs loves these, and she turned me onto The Cramps so her taste must not be questioned. However I haven't heard much of them, and mention of Motley Crue doesn't fill me with confidence. Surprisingly though, this is a much more punk rock record than I expected, the glam cock rock stylings are around the edges rather than the main thrust. A few songs remind me of Pink Grease, obviously influenced by these, and they're great.
4.5 because half of the album were blocked in my country
This was a lot of fun. I enjoyed it a lot
Está chulo.
'Until I Get You' sounds like a classic glam metal song of it's day, the rest of the album is decent listen
I thought it was going to be rubbish 80's glam based on the cover, and the first few 1 star reviews on here... but I really liked this! They've got something about them. They have a real manic energy, with tons of personality and attitude. Nice rocking guitars and rock vocals. Plenty of 'waows' in there and so on. Good stuff!
Tof hardrockalbum
interesting rock!!
I love glam metal
Song #1, "WTF is this, Jethro Tull or something?" Song #2, "No wait, it's like the Bay City Rollers or Van Halen. Actually sounds a little like Tom Petty. Or Springsteen maybe?" Song#3, "Alice Cooper! That's what it reminds me of." Song #4, "I don't care what it is, I like it!" 4 stars.
Liked this. Sad all the songs aren’t on Spotify
This is labeled as glam metal on Wikipedia, but it's so goofy and all over the place I'm not sure that's an accurate way to pigeonhole it. There's almost a punk energy to their irreverence, but it mostly sounds like some bizarre strain of sarcastic power pop. If this is hair metal, I enjoy it a helluva lot more than almost any of the other big names of the genre. This went from 3 to 4 stars on second listen. I appreciate that they don't take themselves too seriously. Fun stuff.
Pares de tot el moviment hair metal dels '80. Curiosament des de Helsinki, molt lluny del glamour i estètica de L.A., bullidor de tota aquella escena. Discografia molt curta però impecable. I aquest tercer disc és una bona mostra de la seva facilitat per les bones melodies i per uns temes irresistibles. La veu de Michael Monroe és de les millors del rock 80's, i les guitarres d'Andy McCoy fan la resta. No hi ha tema a saltar en els seus poc més de 40 minuts de música. És impossible de no disfrutar
For whatever reason, Spotify is missing half of this album. It is a pity because I was really enjoying what I listened to.
хмм хмммм смесь всего
I saw a Finnish band from the 80s and thought another tedious Gen X nostalgia thing that sucks, but I actually kinda liked this one
7/10. I thought this was pretty cool. Only gets a 7, but it's like the 7 I gave Bat Out Of Hell where it's way more interesting than a 7, but that doesn't actually make me like it enough to be an 8.
Didn't strike me as particularly influential but it was fun and short. 7/10
Увидев столько негативных отзывов, я испугалась, но послушав мне понравилось Прикольный глэмрок какой то Звучит приятно
Jaunty 80s rock and roll which is pretty entertaining throughout and Rosalita is a classic track.
Glam rock
Entretenido
Pretty good compared to most of the mid 80s European post punk that we absolutely HAVE to listen to
This would be a fun, 3 star-worthy album if it were just some guys from, like, Branson Missouri. The fact that they're from Finland bumps it up to 4 stars for me. They do such an excellent job of imitating/replicating that early 80's American sound of punk-leading-into-glam-rock. It's good!
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Tooting bec wreck
One of few occasions where I'd say that Vice City missed out not adding tracks from this album
I've got a soft spot for 80s glam rock. Lot of this sounds like it could be on a GTA vice city radio station and that's no bad thing Tacky but enjoyed it!
Chips and hooks and charisma
Big hair, big riffs, big fun. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: Malibu Beach Nightmare Date listened: 31/08/22
Gets a lot of hate, but enjoyed the ride
Really great stuff. It’s a shame I can’t listen to Apple Music. YouTube ads kind of ruined the flow a bit but there’s some killer tracks on here!
Really enjoyed this punkish dose of proto hair metal.
Pretty good actually 3 Love it 4
Very ska-punkish
Hell yes. Toes that very fine line between shambolic and inspired, a sleazy, poppy, dirty little diamond that draws equally on punk and glam heritage. 'Mental Beat' is a brilliant track. You know why? Because it's basically 'Next Big Thing' by the Dictators, which also ruled. They wrote 'Lick Summer Love' themselves though, which also smokes. Great record!
I know Hanoi Rocks from the "Peacemaker" show. So I was kinda prepared for HR... ...what I was not prepared for was the fact that I was going to actually like the album. Yeah, it's very 80s, but it hit something in me that I kinda was missing. I really kinda dug it. Can't explain, really, Maybe it was the other stuff I was listening to previously today, I don't know. But I really enjoyed it.
This is a weird album. It seems as though Hanoi Rocks was unsure of what kind of band they were. It's glam, it's rock, it's pop, it's punk. It's a really odd, and at times exceptionally awkward, stew of genre tropes and my initial impressions were not good, to be honest. But, as the album progressed, it started to win me over. "Back to Mystery City" is very strange but, on balance, it's fun and interesting. I think the novelty is worth a star.
I really need to stop judging a book by its cover. This band looks terrible by all accounts and I was ready to hit the 1, maaaybe 2 star button. Boy was I wrong, this wasn't 80s synth heavy glam, but a rock album through and through. Fast guitars, driving drums, a singer that can belt, this was a fun listen to aside from one or two songs that didn't land. Hanoi Rocks sounds like what Kiss looks like.
Never even heard of this band but damn if this album wasn't a lot of fun.
Normally I wouldn't give the time of day to heavy guitar oriented rock from the early 80s but something about this caught my interest. At the end of the day I'm happy Spotify had only half the tunes available since I would have likely got bored if I had to listen to an hour of this.
Pretty good. A cross between punk rock and a hair band…glam rock?
Better than I expected, influences of/on the clash, manics, ultrasound, maybe even the jam. Didn't know they were Finnish before this, makes them roughly 77% more interesting!
this is from the 80s
03/23/22
Rock on!
Mah mah mah maaaa rosalitaaaaa Loved the classic rock vibes, really great album 4/5
Muy bueno
Fun glam rock album! Way to go Finland!
LOVED IT
Better than expected
enjoyed it a lot
Nice hardrock
Better than I expected, influences of/on the clash, manics, ultrasound, maybe even the jam. Didn't know they were Finnish before this, makes them 77% more interesting!
Never even heard of this bunch before. Nice fun glam mental album.
Buen disco de rock guitarrero con canciones rítmicas y sonando mucho a glam-rock. Alegre y con chispa. No inventan nada, pero saben utilizar el género
Rather enjoyed this album.
FInnish glam rock. Surprisingly enjoyable. Need to dig deeper into these guys.
80’s hair metal was a short lived but tremendously enjoyable genre with impressive guitars and even more impressive hair styles. They probably got through enough hairspray to put a sizeable dent in the ozone layer. This album is a lot of fun and not quite as over the top as some later examples of the genre. There are solid drums and guitars, and the vocals are pitched at a level audible to the human ear. Hanoi Rocks from Finland were pioneers, and could possibly have hit the big time if not for the tragic death of their drummer Razzle in a car crash in 1984, caused by Mötley Crüe’s singer Vince Neil driving drunk. The band broke up not long after.
Back to Mystery City by Hanoi Rocks was completely new to me. I’d never heard the band before and, judging by the album cover, I was expecting something unapologetically 80s. That turned out to be pretty accurate. I’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for dramatic glam rock and heavy guitar music, and this album delivers exactly that. I went into it with fairly low expectations but ended up enjoying it far more than I thought I would. The closest comparison I can make is Mötley Crüe, although Hanoi Rocks feel a little less over-the-top and a bit more laid back. There are plenty of big riffs, catchy choruses and enough swagger to keep the album entertaining throughout. It’s not an album I can see myself coming back to, but I had a lot more fun with it than I expected. Favourite tracks: “Sailing Down the Tears” and “Until I Get You” were both great fun Least favourite tracks: “Boys Play Weird Openings” lives up to its name and didn’t really do much for me. There are a few naff moments, but they're all part of the album's charm Album artwork: A wonderfully over-the-top 80s album cover
A ver, no vivi los años en que este álbum salió, así que no es el tipo de rock que escucharía, pero suena bastante decente a ser honestos
Not as good as the other Hanoi Rocks albums ive listened to. And I like them I think they're a good band but this one just didn't have as many bangers. My fav track was Until I Get You.
I've never liked "hair metal" and this doesn't change my mind, but it does land on the better end of the spectrum.
Liking this a lot more than I expected. I wrote them off as a generic hair band back in the day. They definitely owe more of their sound to the New York Dolls than Ratt. Not necessarily something I'll return to but I won't turn my nose up if I hear them mentioned anymore. I gained some respect for these guys.
Hanoi does kind of rock a little.
I am shocked this was on the list, but I did like it.
An okay album, songs are just okay. It wouldn’t bother me to listen more to it, but I propably won’t much.
This was a bit better than I anticipated.
331/1089 that was some pretty fun glam rock. idk what else to add really faves: Until I Get You, Tooting Bec Wreck 62/100
yeah! woo!!
Yeah I mean it is what it is. I expected there to be at least some kind of Finnish stink on it but there isn't so idk man. The title track feels like a parody of itself
At it's best it's kind of a hair metal ramones, but at it's worst it's kind of like a hair metal ramones
I don't know what to do with this one. On paper, this is all kinds of my jam: glam, but also kinda punk, rock swagger, proto-hair metal, good timin' music. But in reality I swung wildly back and forth between "hell yeah brother" and "um, huh, okay". I think I'm calling it 3 stars because nothing else feels correct either.
erste song possibly min lieblingssong EVER?? ahh mega funny, finnland! bin ja nöd de grösst glam rock fan aber d energie gfalltmer until I get you isch echlii entspannter und findi auno schön! mmhh es het scho immer wieder geili parts, v.a. gitarresoli und de bass findi no geil joa schlecht ischs nöd gsi und doch no divers aber chan nöd meh als es 3 geh will ich wird das nöd nomal lose
New York Dolls crossed with the Replacements crossed with Def Leppard. Kind of fun and enjoyable if inconsequential. 3 stars
Unexpectedly fun!
As expected really nothing new
Ehh
Honestly pretty fun! I think this was the first album by an artist I hadn’t heard before where I genuinely enjoyed what I was listening to. Not perfect, but solid hair metal. Favorite song was tooting bec wreck.
Glam with a New Wave twist. Not terrible.
Not really jumping out at me this one.
Well what can I say about this. Totally not my genre, although I had my share with growing up in de age of Def Leppard, Guns 'n Roses and Motley Crue. Bands who are influenced by Hanoi Rocks some way or the other. But this bands stands out for more being an glam icon, the music is more punk than their successors. So 3 stars.
альбом из мема про "мама а можно мне х, нет у нас есть х дома, х дома"
Much better than I expected. 3/5
They get bonus points because they are Finnish, thought I wouldn't have guessed. For Until I get you I almost would rate it 4, but lets consider it 3.25 . Now i read the tragic story, well damn as I said, they really fitted with the 80's us rock scene. Too bad their journey was cut short. They really had potential.
Initially I thought yay another rock album, but that was pretty cool.
3.2 Very puzzling album/band. It's like they can't quite find what they want to do, blending punk/glam/alternative 80s but never blending it well. It's puzzling as there are a couple of great tracks, Tooting Bec wreck for example. But for every great track there are a couple of shite ones. They try and sound almost poppy at times, Ice Cream Summer for example. I'm not quite sure what they're trying to achieve with those songs, they clearly have the ability to put out some hard hitting tracks so why go and ruin it with some nonsense slower ones. Couldn't go less than 3 due to Tooting Bec wreck. Tune.
A little pop, a little punk, a little rock, a little bit of fun. Songs are mostly lighthearted but there's an air of juvenile angst. Take some pretty basic beats, basslines and rock riffs and throw some intentionally edgy teenage lyrics at it and call it a day. Kinda just felt like the precursor to a handful of worse wimp-rock bands that came afterward. It's really nothing special but its also not bad at the same time. Seems like if you were a teenager in the 80's this could have been a fun summer album. I don't have any previous ties to Hanoi Rocks but they seem like they were mostly having a good time so the lighter upbeat sound fit this album well. I don't think I'll be heading back to Mystery City but I didn't mind the listen at all. 2.61 stars
Enjoyed it far more than i was expecting from the cover.
Started out as a fun listen but got really redundant fast. You can see the influence thisbwould have had on the glam metal scene.
If it was pitch perfect it’d be a typical 3.
Pretty generic 80s Glam Rock sound, not a whole lot stood out. I feel like if you’re in a band on this list and then create a new band, then that band will also make the list.
3.5
Not as bad as I expected
You can hear how this influenced every rock back in the 80s...
Another day, another slightly oddball 80s rock act in the post-punk/glam-adjacent/new wave rock sphere that I've heard of by name but nothing else. Some good moments but nothing enormously special. Maybe you had to be there.
Day 19 Back to Mystery City by Hanoi Rocks Never heard of this band before. I’m not the biggest fan of 80s rock, but I don’t mind some glam rock here and there. I actually listened to this while playing darts and having a couple of beers, which turned out to be a pretty perfect setting. It’s a nice, easy listen. Nothing spectacular, but nothing bad either. Just solid, straightforward rock. It doesn’t really stand out in any major way, but it does its job. I could see this being a fun background album in the right setting, like exactly how I listened to it. Wine pairing? Honestly, skip the wine. The hazy summer IPA you had is perfect for this. Food pairing? Something casual and a bit greasy. Maybe wings, nachos, or a burger. This isn’t a sit-down dinner album. Favourite song? “Ice Cream Summer”. Vinyl? Don’t want it. First listen? Yes. Overall 3 out of 5.
I like this
It's not bad, but apart from its influence on others it is nothing special.
2.5
Ok rock album but nothing too interesting. Would rate this 2,5/5 but because tortillat avataan I round it to 3.
Good for it's time
I can see where this band fits in music history. They're between glam rock and glam metal. I get "big in Japan" from this. Note: I looked them up. They're Finnish! I'm surprised mostly because their English is great, as compared to most English language popular music penned by Scandinavians from the 80's to 2010's, which is mostly vapid nonsense. Max Martin might be more responsible for the "English speakers are dumb" trope than anybody else. Anyway, I thought they were British. Also, nailed it with Japan.
Generic 80s glam metal but it's not bad. I suppose they are on this list because they set the trend for much of 80s hard rock/mainstream metal.
"It's just dumb glam" well yes!
Sounds like a generic rock stuck between the late 70s and 80s. Good mix of both styles
No me gustó
Its a bit wierd like a trabsition period between punk and 80s glam. Sounds like a lot of the same bands of that era but not as great thou.
Not what I was expecting, was expecting hair metal and got late 70’s power pop. Good stuff but not really lifting and separating from the ocean of rock records. Ice Cream Summer stood out.
The web of rock spreads wide and far 🤘 Never heard of Hanoi Rocks or even a Finnish rock group before this. I gotta say, its very cool that this was before Motley Crue, Guns N Roses and the like. Some half-assed research confirms that this scene was heavily influenced by Hanoi Rocks. I always wondered how we went from The Eagles to the openly pornographic Motley Crue. I think I have found that bridge Malibu beach nightmare and Ice cream summer were my favorites. 3 star music with 4 star character/influence.
There were some nice moments of glam excess but nothing essential to be found here. Decent
Scuzzy cock rock that wears out its welcome at some point. A bit repetitive, not in a good Ramonesish way. Still, fun.
Finland referencing Vietnam? I guess they were influential but so were the Ramones but without the weirdness.
As a south Londoner it is obvious that some songs resonated strongly with me and the energy, unapologetic vocals make you want to vigorously scream YES. A band to come back to
- High energy punk hair glam - feels like a blend of T.Rex, NY Dolls, Ramones, The Clash... - The keys stand out the most to me, and in general, the instrumentation is generally pretty enjoyable. - It's better when you don't listen to the lyrics. - I definitely feel like it's too long - I was getting kind of bored of it by the middle. - I think it's a 2.5, but I'll round up because it was fun enough.
Didn't finish it yet but not bad
I cringed when I saw this band influenced some of the worst bands of all time: poison, guns n losers, etc. But then I remembered how many bands the Beatles influenced and none of those bands are anywhere as good as the Fab Four. Hanoi Rocks is a good band, and this is a good album. I just don’t need it.
Quite good thx
Not my taste in music - but okay.
Skikkelig ok
Not bad, but not for me
It's a fun album, a little hit and miss for me. But the hits a really good! Plus they have got great hair. Favourites: Tooting Bec Wreck Lick Summer Love Back To Mystery City
This album is a brilliantly chaotic missing link between 70s punk and 80s glam, and I’m honestly surprised it took me this long to find it. It’s got that raw, street wise energy of the New York Dolls mixed with catchy, melodic hooks that clearly paved the way for bands like Guns N' Roses. Tracks like "Malibu Beach Nightmare" and "Tooting Bec Wreck" are pure fun, unapologetically dumb in the best way possible, featuring some surprisingly killer saxophone and piano work that gives the whole thing a unique, eclectic edge. Fuck yeah, Peacemaker!
This is #day581 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… hell yeah, Finnish glam punk is what I've been missing in my life. Actually, it was pretty fine. "Tooting Bec Wreck" has a cool bass melody. And then there's that occasional sax, which I can never resist. Very '80s all around. I'm pretty sure you can do without this record before you die, though. Let it be a 3 out of 5. Looking forward to #day582.
It's alright, but not as glam rock/metal as I thought. Hoped for something better. Nothing noteworthy.
Glam rock, art rock, whatever label you give it, has never been my first choice but this one was tolerable.
I didn't mind this actually, quite a fun inclusion that livened a misty grey day. Didn't engage with it very deeply but there was plenty of fun vibes to carry it.
This is a solid 3.5. Super fun. The only thing more criminal than this not being a more popular album is Vince Neil killing this band’s drummer and only serving 19 days for it.
Fun Finnish proto-Poison