W.A.S.P. — Helldorado (1999)
Helldorado is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band W.A.S.P., released on April 2, 1999 via CMC International Records. The album marked a strong stylistic change from the darker and more industrial direction of Kill Fuck Die (1997), returning instead to a sleazy, hard-rock driven sound reminiscent of the band’s early glam-metal era.
The record embraces a deliberately outrageous attitude, filled with sexual humor, rebellious lyrics, and straightforward heavy riffs. Blackie Lawless intentionally moved the band toward a fun, decadent rock-and-roll atmosphere, echoing the spirit of the Sunset Strip metal scene of the 1980s.
Tracklist
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Helldorado – 4:09
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Damnation Angels – 4:31
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Dirty Balls – 3:38
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High on the Flames – 3:56
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Cocaine Cowboys – 3:14
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Wicked Pleasure – 3:36
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Wishing Well – 3:34
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Sister Sadie (And the Black Habits) – 3:15
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When the Levee Breaks – 6:50
Album Credits
Band Members
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Blackie Lawless — lead vocals, rhythm guitar, bass
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Chris Holmes — lead guitar
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Mike Duda — bass, backing vocals
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Stet Howland — drums
Production
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Produced by Blackie Lawless
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Engineered and mixed by Mikey Davis
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Mastered by Eddy Schreyer
Cover Art Design
The album artwork reflects the record’s themes of sin, temptation, and decadent pleasure, matching the album’s provocative lyrical tone. The title Helldorado itself is a play on the mythical El Dorado, suggesting a decadent paradise built around excess and rebellion rather than wealth.
Fun Facts
🔥 Return to classic W.A.S.P. attitude
After the dark industrial sound of Kill Fuck Die, Blackie Lawless deliberately wrote Helldorado as a fun and provocative hard-rock record.
🔥 Provocative songwriting
Tracks like Dirty Balls and Cocaine Cowboys pushed the band’s shock-rock reputation once again, echoing the outrageous themes from their early career.
🔥 Blues influence
The closing track When the Levee Breaks is a cover of the classic blues song originally recorded by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy in 1929, later made famous in rock by Led Zeppelin.
🔥 Compact album length
The album runs just over 36 minutes, making it one of the shorter records in W.A.S.P.’s discography.
Trivia
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Helldorado was released during a period when W.A.S.P. was rebuilding momentum after the experimental direction of the mid-1990s.
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The album was recorded while the band was touring frequently in Europe, where their fan base remained particularly strong.
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This record is among the last W.A.S.P. albums to feature guitarist Chris Holmes, who left the band again shortly afterward.
Did You Know?
💡 Blackie Lawless described the album as a reaction against the dark themes and emotional heaviness of the previous record.
💡 The word “Helldorado” combines Hell with El Dorado, symbolizing a paradise of indulgence, vice, and rock-and-roll excess.
💡 Despite mixed critical reception, the album has gained a cult following among fans who enjoy its unapologetic sleaze-rock style.
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