A high-energy outfit that roared out of Minneapolis and onto MTV just before the grunge tide turned. Their track “Crank the Heat Up” is a prime example of what made the genre so much fun: loud, fast, over-the-top rock n’ roll with no apologies.
High Octane and No Brakes
“Crank the Heat Up” is the opening track of Hericane Alice’s only major label release, Tear the House Down, which came out in 1990 via Atlantic Records. From the first few seconds, the song delivers pure adrenaline – a galloping beat, wailing guitars, and frontman Bruce Naumann’s gritty, streetwise vocals.
The track is full of the kind of bombast glam fans love: big riffs, slick solos, and a chorus built for arenas (or at least a raucous Friday night). It’s party music with a blue-collar punch, echoing the attitude of bands like Skid Row and Cinderella while keeping things lean and raw.
Lyrically, “Crank the Heat Up” is exactly what it sounds like — an invitation to turn it all up: the volume, the energy, the recklessness. It’s not deep, but that’s not the point. It’s a shot of sonic adrenaline, designed to get your heart racing and your fists pumping.
Tear the House Down: A Brief Blaze
Hericane Alice’s Tear the House Down was released at a tough time – 1990 was the turning point where hair metal’s grip on MTV and radio began to loosen, with alternative and grunge gaining steam. But that didn’t stop the band from going all in. The album features tracks like “Wild, Young, and Crazy” and “Bad to Love,” all delivered with the tight, aggressive style that hinted at their Midwestern bar-band roots.
Despite solid production (helmed by Max Norman, who had worked with Ozzy Osbourne and Megadeth) and some moderate MTV exposure, the album didn’t chart significantly. Still, it carved out a niche among fans who discovered it through word of mouth or late-night Headbangers Ball airplay.
As with many late-arriving glam bands, their timing worked against them. Within a year of their debut, the market shifted. Bands like Alice in Chains and Soundgarden were starting to dominate rock radio, and labels began dropping glam acts en masse.
Hericane Alice disbanded shortly after Tear the House Down failed to catch fire, but they left behind a single LP filled with underrated gems — with “Crank the Heat Up” leading the charge.
Legacy of “Crank the Heat Up”
While it never reached the mainstream heights of its more famous glam cousins, “Crank the Heat Up” remains a beloved deep cut for genre enthusiasts. It’s a pure, unapologetic slice of hair metal excess – the kind of track that demands a volume knob turned to 11.
For fans who love discovering the near-misses and lost heroes of the era, Hericane Alice’s lone album – and especially this track – is a must-listen. It’s proof that even as the curtain was falling on the glam scene, there was still plenty of fire left on the stage.
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