Headlock (now Final Exit) - Heavy Metal
Final Exit is a heavy metal band from Southern California’s high desert in Hesperia and Victorville. Their debut album Padded Cell features all original songs in the mid 80’s retro style of Metallica. They are also featured on the Road Records compilation CD New Faces Volume Three with “War Machine”, a hard edged political commentary.
Hank Merenda (guitar, white t-shirt) and Paul Anderson (lead vocals, straight jacket) are the main writers for the group. Although all the material is set to a heavy metal sound, the lyrical content varies from brutal social commentary to slightly tongue and cheek parodies of the heavy metal genre ala “Spinal Tap”
Most bands are either strong at live performance, material development or studio recording. Headlock is one of the few bands that is focused on all three areas equally. Lead vocalist Paul Anderson, a recluse by nature, becomes an electrifying performer when the band hits the stage. His imagination and unique delivery come to life in stage antics that sometimes even include being executed in an electric chair at the end of their shows. Though superficially twisted and macabre, a Headlock performance is always delivered with an aura of slapstick that keeps audiences coming back for more!
Brett McClintock (guitar) has intense stage energy and lays down a tight rhythm with the drums. His Marshall stacks power the classic crunchy drone of Headlock.
Headlock recorded at Road Records recording studio and were engineered by Conrad Askland.
Dave Williams (Drums, Keyboards) performs incredible percussion and double pedal work on their album. A band is only as good as its drummer and Dave is a key element in creating the Headlock vintage heavy metal sound. Dave also plays keyboards and is featured on the intro of their title song “Padded Cell”.