THE CRUEL INTENTIONS Rock Hard On "All Hail Hypocrisy"
BAND: THE CRUEL INTENTIONS
ALBUM: All Hail Hypocrisy
LABEL: Indie Recordings
RELEASE DATE: May 29, 2026
RATING: ★★★☆☆
Who says this kind of rock 'n' roll ever went out of style? Scandinavian hard rock outfit THE CRUEL INTENTIONS returns with its third full-length studio album, All Hail Hypocrisy, delivering 11 tracks fueled by attitude, swagger, and street-punk urgency. Sounding like a collision between WARRIOR SOUL's gritty metallic edge and RANCID's blue-collar punk fire, the Swedish-Norwegian quartet—fronted by former VAINS OF JENNA vocalist Lizzy DeVine alongside guitarist Kristian Nygaard Solhaug, bassist Mats Wernerson, and drummer Robin Nilsson—continues to evolve its sound with infectious hooks, raw energy, and enough Sunset Strip attitude to light up the Whisky A Go Go. While songs like "Triple Threat" indulge in unapologetic sleaze, the album largely trades excess for grit, channeling rebellion and rock 'n' roll conviction instead.
The record kicks you right in the ass with "Beating In My Chest," an adrenaline-soaked anthem celebrating Hollywood's rock 'n' roll mythology. A muscular chugging riff drives the song forward while DeVine's raspy vocals swagger confidently through the mix, backed by Nilsson's explosive drumming and a rhythm section that never lets up.
"Living Out Of Line" keeps the throttle pinned, pairing massive gang vocals with one of Solhaug's sharpest lead performances on the album. Wernerson and Nilsson lock into a relentless groove beneath a chorus that's impossible to shake, making the track an instant standout.
The title track, "All Hail Hypocrisy," pushes the punk influence even harder. Nilsson hammers away behind a thick, rumbling bass line before the song unexpectedly explodes into a soaring arena-ready chorus. That contrast between street-level grit and melodic payoff gives the track some of the album's biggest hooks.
"Triple Threat" embraces sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll excess with zero apologies, while "Wasteland" provides one of the album's strongest surprises. Built around acoustic guitar, the stripped-down arrangement gives DeVine room to deliver one of his grittiest vocal performances, proving the band doesn't need walls of distortion to make an impact.
The back half never loses momentum. "When Eden Burn" delivers an anthem for outsiders, while "Pseudo Genius" slams together thrash intensity and pop-punk immediacy behind Solhaug's razor-sharp riffing and another powerhouse performance from Wernerson and Nilsson. "Bad Addiction" rounds things out with driving riffs, memorable hooks, and enough sleazy swagger to satisfy fans of classic L.A. GUNS.
Bottom line: DeVine, Solhaug, Wernerson, and Nilsson have delivered one hell of a rock 'n' roll record. All Hail Hypocrisy is loaded with killer hooks, streetwise attitude, and enough high-octane energy to remind everyone why this style of music refuses to die. If THE CRUEL INTENTIONS rolls into your town, grab a ticket, crank a few cold ones, and get ready to have your ass rocked off.