H.E.A.T

Celebrated Swedish Hard Rock band sensation H.E.A.T will tomorrow release their brand-new album 'H.E.A.T II' via earMUSIC, the first to be produced entirely by the band - with Jona Tee (keyboards) and Dave Dalone (guitar) as producers. Also featuring Erik Grönwall - vocals, Jimmy Jay - bass and Don Crash - drums, the album goes back to the band’s beginnings, redefining the raw H.E.A.T sound - a sound that oozes Classic Rock coolness paired with the snotty confidence of one of Rock and Roll’s most talented bands today.

In 2009, H.E.A.T not only had a huge hit in Scandinavia with the song '1000 Miles', but that same year the band’s second album 'Freedom Rock' was nominated as one of the Top 50 albums in 2010 by Classic Rock magazine UK. Since then, they’ve toured all over the world, blowing audiences away with their outstanding live concerts. In 2019 the band released their live album 'Live At Sweden Rock Festival' - their second ever live recording - and for the first time on video – showcasing a lively and intoxicating setlist including 'Living On The Run', 'A Shot At Redemption' and 'Bastard Of Society'. So with their proverbial bar already set very high - how would this new 11-track offering fare?

If you really needed immediate affirmation that the 'real' H.E.A.T is back ablaze, then the pounding riff and drum on 'Rock Your Body' proves that their embers are well and truly burning nicely on this opener, thanks to Grönwall's fiery vocals - think Nathan James meets Joey Tempest - complemented by that, oh so 80's fusion, of Dalone's guitar and Tee's keys, that even throws in a mid-section 'Kashmir'-esque like snippet. Their fourth and final single 'Dangerous Ground' opens with the starting of a car engine, and fittingly its beat, chugging riffage and Dickinson inspired vocal, ignites into a killer track of great harmonies, chorus and lyrics that will make you want to put your pedal to the Metal. Indeed, H.E.A.T described the single as "the desert racing song of the century" and it's certainly one that you will want to listen to, full blast in your motor! Continuing with their resurgence and their signature sound, their aptly named third single 'Come Clean' is another classic combination of the AOR, Melodic and Classic Rock spectrum that kicks ass - with Dalone's awesome guitar solo not only bringing back great memories of Eddie Van Halen, but also its chorus, vocals and pounding drums, drawing comparisons to Iron Maiden and Bon Jovi.

It's fair to say therefore, that H.E.A.T don’t hide their love for their Classic Rock. Indeed some might accuse of them being cheesy, and inevitably, copying their heroes. However, as The Jam once put it: "The public gets what the public wants" and the fist pumping chorus of singalong 'Victory', which continues the pace with its classic guitar/organ riff, is not only proof that they’re young, ambitious and full of energy and ideas, but it also gives another generation the opportunity to re-discover the melodic approach to Hard Rock with bands such as Foreigner, Journey and Whitesnake, even though big hair and leathers are no longer mandatory! Don't be fooled by the Bluesy opening riff of 'We Are Gods' plus its melodic mid-section, before guitars kick in for yet another fist pumper with a great chorus. And once again there's no hiding place with the appropriately named 'Adrenaline' - with its catchy chorus, Dalone's knock-out guitar, outstanding vocals from Grönwall, plus some great drumming from the perfectly named Crash.

Their first single, 'One By One' released last September, gave a first glance as what is to come for the new album, and deservedly received a lot of airplay on Planet Rock. Another well constructed slice of Melodic Rock with some great backing vocals, it has a real 'Rocky' feel about it and as such is a real belter - H.E.A.T describing it as "about enlightening people and showing an alternative path to life. A road less travelled, if you will.” 'Nothing to Say' slows things down a bit - its unique 80's ballad/keys vibe somewhat reminiscent of compatriot Roxette rocks, whilst the punishing riff of 'Heaven Must Have Won An Angel', will no doubt surely result in a number of mature Classic Rock punters adding H.E.A.T's patch to their well-worn Denim uniforms. 'Under The Gun's big opening, develops into another driving microcosm of their mesmerising, freshly sounding, energetic Classic Rock and bombastic melodies - with dual guitar harmonies aplenty. Finally, their second single 'Rise' is a massive anthemic AOR hammer, which again the band describe as "uniting and rebelling against the powers that be. Whatever that may be is subjective to the listener.” Well, to put it simply, its a final, fitting, fist pumper of a singalong/chorus, that mid-song meanders into another bad ass Dalone guitar solo.

As the band said: "They just do it and they want to be the best at it." Well they certainly have achieved that. A real epic Melodic Classic Rock rollercoaster of a CD that not only turns up the gas to H.E.A.T mark two, but one in turn that will make you sweat and want to keep permanently on your current Hard Rock playlist. H.E.A.T play three exclusive UK shows this May along with British Rock band VEGA, award winning band Mason Hill and 4-piece Collateral, at Wolverhampton KK’s Steel Mill on Wednesday 28th May, London's Garage on Friday 29th, and finally Swansea's Patti Pavilion on 30th May. This is preceeded by a fifteen date mainland Europe tour, starting in their native Sweden at Stockholm's Fryshuset next Friday 28th February, and finally concluding at Aschaffenburg's, Colos-Saal in Germany on Monday 26th May.

AJ