·so hold that front page·

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Rolling Stone Features: Artist to Watch
Hellfire & Damnation

Growing up on the well-traveled roads of the world can make a child want to plunk their ass at home and never want to move. Unless, of course, that child is traveling the world as part of rock’s royal family.

The daughters of Sénia and Richard Urban and nieces of Tatum Feldman – Natalia and Chelsea Urban – have been groomed for this moment since their conception. Family lore has it that Natalia’s first word was ‘tom’, and she wasn’t singing a Bowie song. Richard had her hitting her first snare as soon as her fine motor skills were refined. Chelsea, inspired by this, learned both bass and guitar from her mother.

When they hit their early teen years, the girls decided they wanted to follow in their family’s footsteps and embark on their own musical journey. Remembering the way their parents referred to them when they misbehaved as children, the girls gave their band a name, and signed a contract with the family company.

The band’s first two singles were covers of two of their parents’ largest hits, Uncontainable and Venice. The versions were widely received by existing Angels of Hellfire fans, and went a long way in enticing new ones. The next single, titled Tempted, beautifully showcases Chelsea’s throaty pipes and Natalia’s ability to keep up an energetic beat.

To date, Hellfire & Damnation has yet to embark on a headlining tour, mostly opening for Angels of Hellfire and Tantric Tatum – their parents and aunt’s bands, respectively – and playing in regional competitions. This summer, however, is rumored to see some changes. Sources have seen a template for upcoming tickets, featuring Hellfire & Damnation above the venue name and show time. Both Chelsea and Natalia have declined to comment, and Siren Call Records spokesperson will neither confirm nor deny a headlining tour. Punk fans will just have to wait and see.

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Rolling Stone:
Double Double Toil and Trouble;
Hellfire & Damnation Expands

For two years, Hellfire & Damnation has existed as a two-woman show. Chelsea Urban rocks the mic and guitar like the second coming of Joan Jett or Courtney Love, while big sister Natalia pounds the skins like Sandy West or Torry Castellano. Bass and rhythm guitar were held down by studio musician fill-ins from Siren Call Records.

Until today.

I entered the rehearsal studio on the third floor of the Siren Call Records complex, expecting to hang out with the gorgeous moreno Urban sisters, and was instead greeted by a cheery redhead. Stopping short at the door, I confirmed that I was in Studio Six. The girl nodded and bounced up off her chair to introduce herself.

Tyler O’Malley, the impossibly chipper, flame-haired daughter of Siren Call Records’ resident physician, has taken a cue from her new bandmate Natalia, and had arrived at the studio in what amounted to a pajama set. She flits around from couch to music stand, caressing her Fender Precision bass on every turn. Eighteen years old, she’s known Chelsea and Natalia all their lives, though they were never really friends. Tyler’s mother Jolene O’Malley is the on-call doctor for the company, available to travel with whatever band sets out on the most grueling tour. In the fledgling years of the label, the only band that traveled with any regularity was Angels of Hellfire. Dr. O’Malley was on the road with Taryn McLoughlin, Sénia and Richard Urban two hundred days out of the year, and all parties had their toddler children in tow.

Originally a guitar player, Tyler spent a lot of time around the studios, providing back up to smaller acts during recording and rehearsal. She actually filled in on both rhythm guitar and bass during recording for several of the tracks on Hellfire & Damnation’s first album. When Natalia and Chelsea made the decision to add a more permanent member to the group, they offered the job to Tyler first, and she jumped at the chance.

Today’s jam session is in place to familiarize Tyler with the rest of H&D’s repertoire, and prepare her for the upcoming tour. Natalia bounds in, pajama shorts in red plaid, top in blue polka dot, twirling her drum sticks between her fingers; and Chelsea follows, in black shinny jeans and a black cowl-neck sweater. The three girls greet each other like old friends would, before getting right down to business. After a few moments, I realize that the chemistry here will buoy this trio to greatness, and consider myself very lucky to be witness to the inception.