I’ve been waiting for this one for a long time and it’s finally arrived – the ultimate H.E.A.T. album is here and it came from the future!
If you’ve been following the band like me since the very start then you’ll know that H.E.A.T. has always been one of the most authentic Hard Rock bands this side of the millennium. They’ve also been lucky enough to have two of the very best frontmen in the business. And whilst Erik was wonderful and saw some of the band’s finest moments ‘Freedom Rock’ was always my favourite album, and now there’s a new addictive power back in the band since Kenny returned.
I loved the comeback record ‘Force Majeure’ and the ‘Extra Force’ EP, but my friends, this is something of a revelation. From the retro keys and cranked guitars of opener ‘Disaster’ we’re already in flight soaring on a smooth melodic wave that seems endless. It’s just the sort of high energy onslaught that we’ve become accustomed to from the band who stand head and shoulders above the majority of their contemporaries.
If you can manage to catch your breath then ‘Bad Time For Love’ is the song that will have you running for cover and instantly singing along. Solidly melodic but less frenetic it’s the second of the three previously released singles that open up the album. ‘Running to You’ of course just sweeps you up in it’s melodic glory and clutches you tight before injecting a searing solo for good measure. I love the way that the singles come first because the anticipation just builds. You know that if they can maintain that level of craftsmanship that this could well be the new high watermark in the H.E.A.T. catalogue.
The first ‘new’ song ‘Call My Name’ is an immediate departure, at first it sound like a guitar-led ballad, but it shapes into a funkier mid-tempo rocker with a smooth drawn chorus that sets it aside from anything I’ve heard from teh band before. Because it’s so sumptuously constructed it immediately grabs you and I’m drawn further into this AOR territory with each listen. A big tick from me.
‘In Disguise’ that follows is the sort of solid Rocker that H.E.A.T. does so well – dynamic, mid tempo with a wonderful refrain and throwing all the shapes. It’s the sort of muscular rocker that has become a staple in the live set and this one’s a keeper.
And the deeper you get the better it gets. ‘The End’ is pure class, a keyboard led mid tempo rocker that sound like you imagine first album Bon Jovi would sound if they were transported into the future! Man I love those keys they drive it forward and the guitars sound so huge!
It’s at this point that the awesomeness of the album takes grip – hold onto something solid – we are only half way in!
‘Rock Bottom’ (I must admit I always hope for a UFO cover when I read that name) is all fired up guitar and sway and swagger with Kenny almost dueling the guitar refrain. It’s a sure fire fan favourite to be and one that will sound sensational live. ‘Children of the Storm’ is one of my favorites here and the sort of song Mr. Leckremo was made to sing. A powerful, dynamic mid tempo rocker with trademark guitar licks, building verse and crowd-baiting chorus – it has it all!
‘Losing Gane’ starts with a Bluesy riff and proceeds to find a cool groove that just sticks, whereas ‘Paradise Lost’ is grander, more like latter day Europe, and it just drives towards a chorus that is simply glorious. It’s almost Power Metal lyrically but so deeply Melodic it will have you beating your chest as you sing along.
One of the biggest songs here and probably my current favourite is the wonderfully retro ‘Tear it Down (R.N.R.R.)’ which starts with retro phone sounds and falls into a wall of Dio-like bluster surrounded by swelling background vocals. It’s another song not afraid to step out of the comfort zone, throwing in some Def Leppard to the mix as Kenny wails those Dio-like lyrics. It could be a staple for years to come.
Final track ‘We Will Not Forget’ starts with that Celtic infusion that bands like Eclipse harness so well, and it’s that Folk-tinged fury that drives this one with its stuttering guitar to a bright blue sky refrain. It’s a joyous way to close what is surely going to be a huge step for the band. Now just get back Downunder and play it for us!
H.E.A.T. is back with one of their strongest albums yet – if this is the future give me more!
