Blaskan (www.blaskan.nu), February 2007

Hion Martell — Water: Songs from the Iron Motel Vol. 1
Bara du hör första riffet på Hion Martells titellåt Water så får jag John Fogerty, Little Feat och Stones i skallen som ekar i min skalle helas tiden. Plus att en låt som Rock Me Up fullständigt går och skär sönder saker och ting på redaktionen. Med andra ord så landade denna skiva hos mig undertecknad som chefredaktör satte jag mig ned för att få loss en dos traditionell träskrock och blytunga riffs som jag inte trodde gjordes i Sverige. Då talar vi om traditionell urrock som tittar lite åt sydstatsrockens bygder där The Allmans Brother kunde förvirra sig in i sköna sånger.

Skivan innehåller fyra stora låtar med riktigt bra rock från ett band som jag hör för första gången. Men det är delikat mogen rock som är tuff och har bra arrangemang. Sången är precis så där cool som Gibonsbröderna i ZZ Topp kan få till det. Musiken fångar in vad skulle vilja kalla för essens av rocken. Där bas, trumma, sång och gitarr möter varandra på ett förträffligt sätt. Hion Martell har enligt pressinfo liksom på hemsidan funnits sedan 1992 och den här skivan har fått nytt ljud och förmodligen tuffare sound kommer ut på cd igen. Vilket fall som helst älskar jag en grupp som låter rock och dessutom är rock.

Det är därför att den här skivan skulle förtjäna mycket bättre uppmärksamhet av omvärlden. Vi får väl hoppas att Hion Martell helt enkelt upptäckts av andra genom att läsa den här recensionen. För det är snygga rocklåtar som förvaltar ett arv väl men låter sin musik få vara egensinnig och bara sådant älskar jag att få lyssna på. Egensinnig bra modern svensk rockmusik att förkovra sig i räcker långt för min del.

Metal Only (www.metal-only.com), January 2007

HION MARTELL - Water (2006)
Traditional rock is usually quite far from the music I normally listen to, but when I received the latest release, “Water”, by the Swedish band HION MARTELL it was obviously time for me to do a review within this style too. This Mcd contains four songs that originally were found on the bands previous full-length album “Music From The Swing Dynasty: Iron Motel By Hion Marell”, but have now been re-recorded and re-released.

HION MARTELL are no newcomers, they have in fact been around since 1992, but have kept av quite low profile throughout the years. There is however no shortage in the love of playing music and this is something that shines very clearly through the music. On the release you get four cheerful rock songs that even though they are all deeply rooted in rock shows a quite large variation between one another. The opener and title song “Water” and the third song “Rock Me Up” are the ones with the most traditional rock sound with catchy melodies and moderately heavy guitar riffs that are backed up by a drumming in midtempo. The fourth song “New Guru Shuffle” also isn't really that far from a similar sound, but the song has been given a slightly more country inspired sound where of course the compulsory harmonica hasn't been forgotten. “God Damned Good Band”, which by the way have become my favorite song on this Mcd, has however a quite different sound compared to the rest of the songs. Here punk surprisingly walks into the sound and even though the sound still stands with both feet in the traditional rock, the punk influences becomes quite clearly visible. The common thing for all songs is nevertheless as I mentioned the true love of playing music that shines clearly through the music and the thing that maybe impresses me the most, namely the excellent vocals. The band has also heavily used backing vocals in the songs, especially female vocals, which enhances even more the positive impression that the vocals bring.

Even though rock is no favorite genre for me, HION MARTELL have succeeded in charming me with their charming songs in which you easily will caught yourself in singing along in the chorus. Yet the sound is of a such kind that I can't really see the band performing on a large stage, but as a live band at your local pub this would be perfect. Laid-back, charming and cheerful are the keywords for this one.

Written by: Janne

Hard Rock Info (www.hardrockinfo.com), December 2006

HION MARTELL:Water, Songs From The Iron Motel Vol. 1 - CD, Scarilla!
Yeah, this shit rocks! It's the popular ROLLING STONES style (aka old man rock) we're talking about here, and as they once sang: "I know it's only rock'n'roll but I like it".
They deliver 4 songs who's perfect to kick off your rock'n'roll party with, especially "Water" and "Rock Me Up" are good party starters. This stuff makes me wanna get really drunk and howl at the moon, but unfortunately I have to get up early tomorrow to go to the slavery (aka work). I definetely want more!

This band have actually been around since 1992 already and are from Ljusdal in Sweden. This is their sixth record release, but I have never heared about them before. Probebly becuse they've always been faithful to the underground scene, which I guess they always will be.

Garageband.com (www.garageband.com), July 2007

A few user reviews of the track 'God Damned Good Band':

"nice riff good energy in this song, nice playing on the instruments and a good voice keep on rocking "

"diddy nice intro... has a cool punk feel... kinda hard to discern lyrics... a good punk tune... i dig the guitars and melody... well done... "

"70's are back Almost sounds like Rocky Horror Picture Show meets Cheap Trick. Good band like the song says. Jammin' out, good mix and production as well. Good Job. "

"God Damn Good Band... I guess? Yeah man, awesome intro. Rocks. You think highly of yourselves, huh? I don’t get the background vocals. It’s kind of unfitting. But the song rocks. Hey guitar, lay of the effects, jeez. Though, the solo did blow me away. Still a kick ass song. Got a great hook. GJ. "

"good time good time band ......the mood here is evidentally the key thing...this is fun...very very retro ...but fun fun . all other comments mean nothing...lyrics ...show that this is a goddamn good band and one that is not likely disappear up it's own arse very shortly.. well done..keep the tongue in the cheek "

"Review Hey! Great fun beginning. Good rock and roll sound. Really original sound and great lyrics. Thanks! "

"fun :) haha i like this, it's a fun song with some great guitar playing too!...love the punky feel in the riffs and the vocals have that cheeky fee'...good sound all around and a good track to jump around to :)"

PEACE!
CD - SCARILLA!, 2002

Sea of Tranquility (www.seaoftranquility.org), 2004-02-06

Hion Martell: PEACE!
It's not progressive, it's not complex, and it's not testing any musical boundaries, but damn, it's fun! Hion Martell's label describes them as "Bluesy meat & potato rock & roll with a country touch". An excellent description. Remember J.J.Cale? AOR with good male vocals, wonderful female vocals in lead and backing roles, solid song structure … all good head-nodding foot-tapping rock. It's hard to believe that this band is Swedish rather than from the American heartland.

Their full name is "Hion Martell & his Undercover Cops", this is their 4th CD, and the music on PEACE! is uplifting and positive, purelyp song-oriented, with straightforward but memorable melodies. The first track starts with a riff that you could have picked up on your first electric guitar lesson, and that sets the stage for much of the music - but it's okay, it works well in the context of this album. The songs are sung in English with no trace of an accent. The rather simple CD liner is quite fun too - you gotta love those antique nude pictures courtesy of the Erotic Museum of Stockholm (God - we were so innocent in the old days!)

The 11 short tracks are over in 37 minutes and are divided into "North" and "South", LP-style. But you'll have no idea what that means because the CD liner gives very little information and no lyrics, and their Swedish-only web site tells you little even if you could understand the language. And according to Messrs Google and Dotcom, not one other site has ever reviewed their CDs. The band is shooting themselves in the foot here - this music really deserves to be heard, but they aren't getting the message out. Get this album. It's damn good fun.